Lighting system with cellular networking

ABSTRACT

Disclosed are examples of lighting devices and other devices that are equipped with a cellular transceiver that is configured to communicate using cellular radio frequency spectrum in both a small-scale cellular network and a large-scale cellular communication network. By utilizing a short-range, low-power cellular transceiver setting, a lighting device facilitates communication, within the space in which the lighting device is installed, of messages between the lighting device and other types of user devices. Such an equipped lighting device may be configured to participate in the generation and delivery of different types of messages, such as data, emergency broadcast information, news and other information. Such a lighting device also may be configured to extend the reach of devices within the space in which the equipped lighting devices are located.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 15/245,465 filed Aug. 24, 2016, issued Jul. 24, 2018 as U.S.Pat. No. 10,034,314, entitled “Lighting System with CellularNetworking,” the entire contents of which are incorporated herein byreference.

The Ser. No. 15/245,465 application is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/701,762 entitled “Lighting System with CellularNetworking,” filed on May 1, 2015, issued Oct. 11, 2016 as U.S. Pat. No.9,468,078, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein byreference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The subject matter of the disclosed examples relates to lighting deviceswith cellular transceivers configured to communicate with other lightingdevices via a private cellular network and with a public cellularcommunication network.

BACKGROUND

Electrical lighting has become commonplace in modern society. Electricallighting devices are commonly deployed, for example, in homes, buildingsor commercial and other enterprise establishments, as well as in variousoutdoor settings. Even in a relatively small state or country, there maybe millions of lighting devices in use.

With the advent of modern electronics has come advancement, includingadvances in the networking and control capabilities of the lightingdevices. By nature, solid state light sources such as light emittingdiodes (LEDs) are easily controlled by electronic logic circuits orprocessors. As increased processing capacity finds its way into thelighting devices for purposes of lighting control, the incorporation ofassociated communications capabilities, e.g. to allow lighting devicesto communicate with system control elements and/or with each other viadifferent communication protocols such as Zigbee, X10, Wi-Fi, Bluetoothor the like, is becoming more commonplace. In this way, advancedelectronics in the lighting devices as well as the associated controlelements have facilitated more sophisticated lighting control algorithmsas well as increased networking of lighting devices and/or other deviceswithin the space in which the lighting devices are installed. Inaddition, lighting devices typically having nearly uninterrupted accessto electrical power are ubiquitous; with a lighting device installed inalmost every facility.

The advent of the advanced electronics, nearly uninterrupted supply ofpower, and ubiquitous nature of lighting device deployments makes thelighting device an excellent candidate for incorporation into a networkof devices to provide services, such as data communication,location-relevant data, emergency alerts, and the like. When used in thecontext of a network device or in a network, lighting devices are usedprimarily as a component of a premises broadband local area network.Some examples include wireless networking such as Wi-Fi or perhaps aBluetooth-like network. While lighting devices have been developed toinclude cellular communication capabilities, these cellularcommunication capabilities installed in lighting devices have primarilybeen used as repeaters for a cellular communication network in order toextend the coverage of the cellular carrier.

Cellular communication network systems are known for providing cellularcoverage over large geographical areas. These large-scale cellularcommunication network systems provided by cellular carriers includecomponents that facilitate calls from one city, such as New York City,to be completed to another city, such as San Francisco, a great distanceaway from the originating device. This connectivity is accomplished byuse of cellular coverage areas, which are serviced by cellularcommunication network access points, nodes or base stations operating ina portion of the cellular radio frequency spectrum that cover ageographical area. The cellular communication network system includescomponents that in response to connection requests from user devices,exchange/forward access request messages, and authorization andauthentication messages to establish a cellular communication networkconnection over the air with the requesting user device. This exchangeof messages consumes network resources and bandwidth, and also consumesbattery power of the respective user devices. The network componentsalso locate the intended recipient device identified in the connectionrequest, and if authorized set-up communications between the devices.

Similar use of network resources, bandwidth and consumption of userdevice battery power occurs when a user device accesses a data source,such as a website, music service, video service or the like via thepublic data network (Internet), or a large-scale cellular communicationnetwork.

In the past, user devices were primarily used for making and receivingvoice calls, sending and receiving text messages, exchanging data (e.g.,sending e-mail), and providing and receiving location information.However, as user devices become more application centric, the userdevices, while still performing those primary tasks, are becoming moreinvolved in providing information related to the user's socialinteractions, business relationships, and daily customs, such ascommuting, coffee breaks, shopping and the like, based on applicationsused by the user device.

For example, solutions have been proposed that allow a user device toreceive location relevant information via the large-scale cellularcommunication network or an available Wi-Fi network in the vicinity ofthe user device. For example, growth in long term evolution (LTE)technologies, such as LTE Direct or LTE Advanced provided in cellularchipsets manufactured by Qualcomm®, allow devices to exchange messagesusing cellular radio frequency spectrum. The LTE Direct or LTE Advancedchipsets provide a means for devices to communicate very brief messagesin a peer-to-peer fashion without having to gain access to thelarge-scale cellular communication network via a cellular networkprovider cellular network access point, such as an eNode-B, a basestation or the like. However, these LTE Direct chipsets provide only abrief period of time in which the user device broadcasts short messagesand/or receives short messages from similar user devices with the LTEDirect chipset by the large-scale cellular communication networkservicing the user device. While LTE Direct may be useful for peerdiscovery, it does not appear to provide the capability to satisfypeer-to-peer connectivity or to allow the equipped-devices to serve asdata sources to user devices.

What is needed is a means for leveraging the advances in both lightingand cellular technology to improve the internetworking of lightingdevices and other devices through the utilization of the cellular radiofrequency spectrum that improves the lighting device to allow thelighting device to be a more integral participant in the communicationinfrastructure of a facility, and a participant, instead of a passthrough, in the cellular communication infrastructure as a whole.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawing figures depict one or more implementations in accord withthe present concepts, by way of example only, not by way of limitations.In the Figures, like reference numerals refer to the same or similarelements.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of an environment that implementssmall-scale wireless networking, e.g., in a lighting system, usingcellular resources in an area also served by a large-scale cellularnetwork.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a simple example of a lighting device andother devices configured to communicate in a private networkenvironment.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of a simple example of anappropriately configured lighting device.

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of another example of a lightingdevice.

FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of a more complex example of anappropriately configured lighting device.

FIG. 6 is system block diagram example of a system of a lighting devicesand user devices operating in an example of the networking environment.

FIG. 7 illustrates a process flowchart for communication between anappropriately-configured lighting device and one or more appropriatelyconfigured devices, for example similar to that of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 illustrates another process flowchart for a communication betweena lighting device, for example, similar to any of those of FIGS. 3-5,and one or more other devices.

FIG. 9 illustrates an example of an operating scenario of appropriatelyconfigured lighting devices operating in a small-scale cellular network.

FIG. 10 illustrates another example of an operating scenario ofappropriately configured lighting devices operating in a small-scalecellular network.

FIG. 11 is a simplified functional block diagram of a computer that maybe configured as an appropriately-configured processor, for example, tofunction as the application processor of a lighting device as shown inthe examples of FIGS. 4-6 or function as a server as shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 12 is a simplified functional block diagram of a personal computeror other management device, which may be used as a management device oruser device, in any of the examples of FIG. 1 or 8.

FIG. 13 is a simplified functional block diagram of a mobile device, asan alternate example of a user device, for possible communication in orwith the system of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are setforth by way of examples in order to provide a thorough understanding ofthe relevant teachings. However, it should be apparent to those skilledin the art that the present teachings may be practiced without suchdetails. In other instances, well known methods, procedures, components,and/or circuitry have been described at a relatively high-level, withoutdetail, in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring aspects of the presentteachings.

The following examples describe lighting devices configured with acellular transceiver that improves the internetworking of lightingdevices and other devices through the utilization of the cellular radiofrequency spectrum in such a way that the lighting device improves thecommunication infrastructure of a facility, or premises where thelighting device is installed.

Recently, there have been proposals to allow mobile devices towirelessly connect to each other in a mesh network, such that if onedevice has a suitable connection to a public cellular communicationtower, but a second device does not, the second device can “piggybackon,” use, the first device's connection. The technology has been shownto be effective so long as the mobile devices are “reasonably” close toeach other. Problems arise, however, if the mobile device user seeking amesh network connection is in an area with few, if any, of other users'mobile devices within range (e.g. in a building after normal work hours)of the mobile device seeking a mesh network connection. To mitigate theeffects of a few users in an area that have a usable connection, it isproposed to equip lighting devices with components that facilitate useof lighting devices to perform the “piggyback” function using asmall-scale wireless network. The following examples contemplate devicesin a lighting system having cellular radios, where the cellular radiosmay act as participants in the small-scale network. This may be anappropriate time to discuss the small-scale network and the differenttypes of communications that may utilize the wireless capabilities ofthe small-scale network. Examples of the different types ofcommunications include mesh networking communications, ad hoccommunications and peer-to-peer. There are fundamental differencesbetween these types of communications.

In a mesh network implementation, if one of the lighting devices hascellular connectivity to a cell tower, e.g., an eNodeB or base station,the cellular mesh network may allow mobile devices in a building thatotherwise may have poor connectivity to “piggyback” through the meshnetwork of the small-scale network onto the public cellularcommunication network connection to the cell tower. Each deviceparticipating in a mesh network acts as a routing device that assistsother devices in the mesh network by forwarding data packets for theseother devices to intended recipients. The mesh network provides amulti-“hops” capability. In contrast, an ad hoc network is a network inwhich devices in the network communicate directly to any other devicewithin wireless radio range without using a central access point router.In essence, the ad hoc network bypasses a router. However, devicesparticipating in an ad hoc network arrangement do not have thecapability to perform the multi-hopping useful in the mesh network.

Peer-to-peer simply means that application layer clients directly talkto each other without a central server infrastructure, ad hoc and meshnetworking can all support peer-to-peer communications as they areinstances of device-to-device communication, but at different layers ofthe OSI model. In the OSI model, the ad hoc networking is at the OSI 1layer, the physical layer, whereas mesh networking is at the OSI 3layer, network layer, that is responsible for data routing. Thepeer-to-peer clients are at the application layer.

User devices equipped with the appropriately-configured LTE cellulartransceivers are able to communicate with other similarly configureddevices, such as a lighting device, via the cellular radio frequencyspectrum without having to interact with the large-scale cellularcommunication network. There is the potential for lighting device and/oruser devices equipped with the cellular transceivers to interfere withthe large-scale cellular communication network. In order to mitigatepotential interference with the cellular radio frequency spectrum beingused by the large-scale cellular communication network in the vicinityof the devices equipped with the cellular transceiver, the range of anappropriated-configured cellular transceiver may be limited toapproximately 500 meters, similar to the LTE Direct chipset.

Some transceivers in lighting devices may operate at power levels forlarge-scale network communications, e.g., when linking to the largernetwork outside the premises, and operate at power levels forsmall-scale networking within the premises. The power may be set andmaintained for some of the lighting devices' transceivers, e.g., forsmall-scale networking only within the premises. Mobile user devicetransceivers could be similarly limited, but the limitation ismaintained only so long as a user device is in the vicinity of the smallscale network implemented by the lighting devices.

For example, the appropriately-configured cellular transceiver utilizesminimal signal strength to transmit a signal approximately 500 meters.As a result, the cellular transceiver may not generate a signal that iscapable of obtaining access to the large-scale cellular communicationnetwork.

Examples of a cellular transceiver for lighting devices are not limitedto only communicating within the small-scale, short-range cellularnetwork, but are able to connect with the large-scale cellularcommunication network when requested and with the proper registrationsand/or permissions to gain access to the large-scale cellularcommunication network.

Besides the above differences between the large-scale cellularcommunication network and the small-scale, short-range cellular network,another difference may be the category of end user device that is beingserved by the cellular mesh network and the large-scale cellularcommunication network, respectively. For example, a calling party on astreet corner in New York City normally uses the large-scale cellularcommunication network to call a user device in San Francisco. In thistype of use case, the large-scale cellular communication network isessentially open to the public at large. In other words, the large-scalecellular communication network is available to any network-registered,user device in the public (i.e., the public-at-large) and is regulatedas a public entity. While the small-scale, short-range cellular networkmay also be available to any user device in the public, that device hasto be within a certain vicinity of another device that is participatingin the small-scale, short-range cellular network. For example, onlythose devices within the 500 meter vicinity of an appropriatelyconfigured lighting device, which is operating as a member of thesmall-scale, short-range cellular network are able to communicate as amember of the small-scale, short-range cellular network with thelighting device.

However, another user device located in a shopping mall without accessto the large-scale communication network uses the small-scale,short-range cellular network to communicate within the shopping mall.The shopping mall locations use of small-scale, short-range cellularnetwork is private as compared to the point-to-point calling provided bythe large-scale cellular communication network because the shopping mallmay have diminished access to the large-scale cellular communicationnetwork while the user device on the New York City street corner hasfull access to the large-scale cellular communication network.

A public network is considered to be a cellular communication network,offered by a mobile network operator, or a cellular carrier that isavailable to any user device of a user in the general public, e.g., withan appropriate subscription to network service(s). Conversely, a privatenetwork may be a network that is only available to user devices thatmeet certain criteria, in particular, membership in a private networkmay be limited by the range of the individual members of the privatenetwork from one another. For example, a private network rangelimitation may not permit respective user devices that are beyond ashort range, such as 500 meters, from one another to be part of theprivate network. Private network membership may also be limited bypermissions, e.g., based on association of the user or device with aparticular enterprise, such as an employee of an organization owning orserved via the private network.

In our small-scale network example, the private network member devicesuse cellular radio frequencies to communicate among one another albeitvia low-power, short-range transmissions. The number of members in theprivate network may grow as new devices come within the short-range,such as 500 meters, of a present member of the private network thatenables the new device to join the private network. In some examples,the private network may be considered a cellular mesh network whosecommunications are based on a cellular radio frequency transmissionshaving a lower power and a shorter range than communications made bydevices participating in the public network.

In some indoor locations, users are beyond the range of a cellularcommunication tower and, as a result, do not have cellular service fromthe large-scale cellular communication network or from a public network.A possible solution is to include a cellular transceiver within alighting device installed in an indoor location in which the cellulartransceiver is configured to establish a connection with the large-scalecellular communication network. The cellular transceiver when attemptingto establish the connection with the large-scale cellular networktransmits signals in the cellular radio frequency spectrum that aretransmitted at a power level normally used in the large-scale cellularnetwork. These normal power level transmissions are at a higher powerlevel than those proposed for using in the private networks describedabove. As will be described in the following examples, the signaltransmission power levels of the cellular transceiver in the describedlighting devices are selectable by a processor in the lighting device,which permits the lighting device to select when to use the normal,higher, power level signal transmissions versus the lower-power signaltransmissions suitable for communication with members of the small-scalecellular network. This solution provides at least two advantages:enabling the lighting device to communicate with other lighting devicesand user devices in a small-scale cellular network, and providing userdevices with an access point to a large-scale cellular network, when,for example, signal strength to the user device is diminished due tobeing located indoors.

The disclosed concepts improve over prior lighting systems, particularlythose utilizing networked intelligent lighting devices and other networkconnected elements because utilizing the licensed cellular bandwidthpermits establishment of a network beyond individual lighting devices.The examples discussed below may also enable lighting devices toparticipate in small-scale cellular networking implementations within apremises, i.e., in an interior or exterior space, as well as provide thecapability to provide devices within the premises with access to a largescale cellular network. Reference now is made in detail to the examplesillustrated in the accompanying drawings and discussed below.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a networking environment 100. In thenetworking environment 100 of FIG. 1, a base station 110 may providecellular communication service (e.g., such as 3G, 4G or LTE service) todevices such as user devices 113 a, 113 b, and 113 c, and to lightingdevice LD 2 that are located within a coverage area periphery 115 of thebase station 110. User devices 113 a-c, 123 a-c and 133 a-c may besmartphones, personal computers, laptop computers, tablet computers orthe like. In this example, the base station 110 is part of a large scalecellular communication network system. For example, the large scalecellular communication network system may provide cellular communicationservices (e.g., such as LTE service) to user devices in the public.

In this example, lighting device LD 1 may be an outdoor device that isnear the periphery of the coverage area (i.e. range) 115 of the basestation 110 cellular signals, while the user devices 133 a-c are outsidethe periphery of the base station 110 coverage area 115, and thereforecannot connect to the large scale cellular communication network.Similar to user devices 123 a-c, user devices 133 a-c may be able toobtain connectivity to the large scale cellular communication networkthrough the lighting device LD 1. Meanwhile, lighting device LD 2 may belocated indoors and may be able to communicate via cellular radiofrequency spectrum with devices only within the coverage area periphery125.

The indoor locations in which lighting device LD 2 may be located mayinclude, for example, a shopping mall, warehouse, office building,stadium, arena parking garage or the like. A lighting device LD 2 mayinclude, for example, a light source, a processor, and a cellulartransceiver (which will be described in a following example). The lightsource may produce visible light for general illumination within a spacein which a number of lighting devices are installed. The light sourcemay be configured to respond to control signals from the processor. Thecellular transceiver may facilitate a wireless cellular connection tothe base station 110 of the large-scale cellular communication networkas well as a wireless connection to the devices 123 a-c within theindoor space for small-scale network communications. Further details ofa lighting device, such as the lighting device LD 2, will be describedin more detail with reference to FIGS. 3-5.

In the environment 100 of FIG. 1, the lighting device LD 2 is in rangeof the base station 110 when the cellular transceiver of the lightingdevice LD 2 transmits or receives at a typical cellular communicationpower setting, and, therefore is able to access the large-scale cellularcommunication network via the base station 110. The one or more ofdevices 123 a-c may also be in range of the base station 110 and mayobtain cellular communication service directly from the base station110. Or, under some circumstances, the devices 123 a-c may be unable toobtain from or transmit a cellular signal of sufficient strength to thebase station 110. For example, the particular devices 123 a-c, due totheir location, for example, may not have a signal of acceptable signalstrength from the base station 110. In this case, the devices 123 a-cmay look for an alternate source of connectivity to the large-scalecellular communication network. In which case, the cellular transceiverof the lighting device LD 2 may provide the capability for the devices123 a-c to connect to the large-scale cellular communication network byoperating the cellular transceiver at normal power for the link to thelarge-scale network and operating the user devices and/or a lightingdevice transceiver at a lower power for the small-scale network link(s).

By incorporating a cellular transceiver and additional functionalityinto lighting device LD 2, the lighting device LD 2 is able toparticipate in private cellular network that includes devices 123 a-c.The private cellular network is decoupled from the large-scale cellularcommunication network, which means as explained above that the lightingdevice LD 2 does not need permission or have to access controlcomponents (not shown) of the large-scale cellular communication networkto establish small-scale network communications. The respective devices123 a-c, which also may have additional functionality similar to that ofthe lighting device, may be able to communicate on the same cellularradio frequency spectrum as the lighting device LD 2. As a result, thedevices 123 a-c and the lighting device LD 2 may communicate with oneanother directly in a peer-to-peer communication system or communicationmay be facilitated through lighting device LD 2. The private cellularnetwork as explained above facilitates cellular communication withoutthe need for the devices participating in the small-scale network toconnect to the large-scale cellular communication network. For example,the lighting device LD 2 may be configured to generate mass broadcastsin emergency situations or for event broadcasts, such as an announcementof commencement of a speech in a particular area of a convention centeror tradeshow. In another example, one or more devices 123 a-c may chooseto obtain mobile communication service via the lighting device LD 2instead of from the base station 110 because the user of a particulardevice 123 a-c desires to save on cellular minutes or save power, forexample.

In addition, this example of lighting device LD 2 is suitable to addresssaturation caused by an overwhelming number of mobile user devices at aparticular area, such as sports arena, attempting to gain access to aparticular cellular base station of the public cellular network. Forexample, when thousands of devices in the sports arena attempt to nearlysimultaneously obtain cellular service from the base station 110, thebase station 110 becomes overwhelmed (i.e., saturated) and is unable tokeep up with demand. To alleviate some of the connection burden on thebase station 110, a small-scale cellular network may be established, forexample, incorporating the devices within the coverage area 125 oflighting device LD 2. For example, the lighting device LD 2 may beinstalled in a location (e.g., near a specific seating section orconcourse) of the sports arena, so devices within the coverage area 125of lighting device LD 2 may attempt to connect to the lighting device LD2 instead of directly with the base station 110. The devices, such asdevices 123 a-c, may attempt to connect to the lighting device LD 2instead of the base station 110 because, for example, the signalstrength of the cellular signal from the lighting device LD 2 will bestronger than the signal from the base station 110. Such a cellular meshnetwork may include lighting device LD 2 and devices 123 a-c. Otherlighting devices in the sports arena may similarly be used to form acellular mesh network within a short range coverage area of therespective lighting devices. Note that as a user device travels aboutthe sports arena, for example, from one concourse to the next, the userdevice may leave membership of one cellular mesh network and become amember of a different cellular mesh network.

As the mesh network is created, one of the members of the mesh network,most likely, the lighting device, is promoted to a LEADER deviceaccording to known mesh networking techniques, and facilitates controlof the mesh network. For example, the mesh networking technique forchoosing the LEADER device is based on public cellular communicationnetwork signal strength and lighting devices in the sports arena, suchas lighting device LD 2, for example, has connections to public cellularcommunication network antennas positioned on the sports arena, thisconnection to public cellular communication network antennas allow thelighting devices to have the strongest signal strength among devices inthe cellular mesh network. As a result, the respective lighting deviceis chosen as the LEADER. According to the networking protocol being usedthe LEADER device performs the functions needed to facilitate a cellularconnection to the base station 110, for the user devices within range.For example, the lighting device LD 2 processor is configured to performa routing function that enables one or more user devices to be providedwith access to the large-scale cellular network. Since lighting deviceLD 2 is the LEADER device in this example, it facilitates provision ofpublic cellular communication service to devices 123 a-c within coveragearea 125. This example may mitigate the saturation problem byconsolidating the number of devices attempting to access the large-scalecellular communication network via the base station 110.

Continuing with the illustrated example of FIG. 1, devices 133 a-c maybe out of range (i.e., due to insufficient signal strength) of the basestation 110. However, lighting device LD 1, which is configured similarto lighting device LD 2, may function as a cellular repeater having asufficient signal to connect to the base station 110, which allowsdevices 133 a-c that are out of range due to insufficient signal tocommunicate with LTE base station 110.

As for devices 113 a-c, these devices may be able to connect to basestation 110 without having direct access to base station 110 because ofa mesh networking technique implemented by the devices 113 a-c, to uselighting device LD 2 as an access point for connecting to the basestation 110. For example, assume lighting device is positioned close toa window of the indoor area in which it is installed However, there maybe scenarios in which one of the user devices, such as device 113 a, isexperiencing degraded signal strength from the base station 110 (e.g.,due to being in an urban canyon or the like). The processor of device113 a is configured to look for other devices that indicate the strengthof their public cellular communication signal strength. Based on thisindication, the device 113 a processor identifies lighting device LD 2as being accessible for public cellular communication services. Assumingdevice 113 a is within a relatively short range of lighting device LD 2(e.g., across the street from), the device 113 a may attempt to connectto lighting device LD 2 as part of the mesh network or the privatecellular network to obtain a connection to base station 110.Alternatively, the device 113 a may attempt to connect to device 123 aas part of the small-scale cellular network, to obtain a connection tobase station 110. In other examples, the respective devices 113 a-c and123 a-c are configured to perform an automatic selection betweenconnecting to the lighting device LD 1 or 2 or each other via cellular,Wi-Fi or Bluetooth based on signal strength.

An advantage of a lighting device configured as described above is thatsuch a lighting device LD 1 or 2 provides range assistance and preservesbattery power for user devices by allowing operation of the transceiversof the user device at lower power levels. In the sports arena example,the devices may not interfere as much with one another because the userdevices 113 a-c and 123 a-c are connecting at lower power levels over ashorter range in the private cellular network or cellular mesh networkwith the lighting device LD 2 and therefore, user devices 113 a-c and123 a-c do not need to generate powerful signals in an attempt to reachthe base station 110 with a signal of sufficient strength.

The interaction of user devices and a lighting device will be describedin more detail with reference to FIG. 2, which is a block diagram of asimple example of an appropriately configured lighting device and otherappropriately configured devices communicating in a small-scale cellularnetwork environment.

The small-scale cellular network 200 environment that has a short rangecoverage area, such as coverage area 125 of FIG. 1, that is serviced bycellular transceivers within the respective lighting device LD 210 anduser devices 202-206. User devices 202-206 may be smartphones, personalcomputers, laptop computers, tablet computers, cash registers, printers,vending machines, automatic teller machines, credit approval devices, orthe like. The power and resulting range of signals transmitted from thecellular transceiver is purposely limited by the device processor toless than (<) 500 meters as discussed above with regard to thesmall-scale cellular network. For example, the lighting device LD 210processor and user devices' 202-206 processors sets transmission powersettings of the respective device's transceiver to transmit at a lowerpower setting than normal (i.e., the power setting for large scalecellular network communications) when attempting to communicate in theprivate cellular network. The lighting device LD 210 may be configuredin a manner similar to lighting device LD 2 of FIG. 1.

The lighting device LD 210 and/or the user devices 202-206 may beconfigured with a broadband (e.g., Wi-Fi or Li-Fi) transceiver, aBluetooth (BT) (or Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)) transceiver and acellular transceiver, the cellular transceiver may be configurable basedon processor selections to communicate in the private cellular networkor in the public (large-scale) cellular communication network. In anexample, when user device 202 is attempting to connect to lightingdevice LD 210, a processor within user device 202 traverses through ahierarchy of connection options for connecting to a network. Forexample, the device 202 processor attempts to first connect via BT, andif unsatisfactory, defaults to trying to connect via Wi-Fi or Li-Fi, andif unsatisfactory, defaults to attempting to connect to a small-scalecellular network by instructing the cellular transceiver to transmitlower power cellular signals. In a specific example, the user device 202may be attempting to send a text message to a device outside of theprivate cellular network environment 200, but since user device 202 isunable to connect to public cellular communication network, user device202 may attempt to connect to lighting device LD 210 as relay to thepublic cellular communication network. The processor (not shown in thisexample) of the user device 202 recognizes that an application of theuser device is attempting to send the text message, and may connect tothe lighting device LD 210 for relaying of the text message. The userdevice 202 processor may choose to use the lowest power communicationmethod available.

In addition, the user devices 202-206 may also be configured tocommunicate within the small-scale cellular network via a peer-to-peerconnection. For example, user devices 204 and 206 may establish apeer-to-peer connection via any of a cellular, Wi-Fi or BT connection,if each user device 204 or 206 is equipped with a particular transceiverfor the particular radio frequency spectrum and enabled to communicatevia the appropriate protocol (e.g., LTE, 802.11xx or BT).

In another example, the small-scale cellular network environment 200 isnot only able to support a low-power, short-range cellular network ofdevices, but is also able to support a private network in which onlydevices that are within a predetermined range of one another, such aslighting device LD 210, and user devices 202-206, may participate. Thedevices participating in the private network may not be limited toutilizing a single frequency spectrum (such as cellular only), but maybe able to use any that two or more devices are configured to use. Forexample, so far, cellular, Wi-Fi and BT have been discussed, so eachdevice in the example of FIG. 2 may communicate using one of thesecommunication methods as part of the private network. As shown in FIG.2, lighting device LD 210 connects to devices via cellular, Wi-Fi andBT. The connection between lighting device LD 210 and user device 0 isvia Wi-Fi, while the connections between lighting device LD 210 and userdevices 1 and 2 is via a cellular connection, shown as an LTE data line.Assume that the LTE data line connection between the lighting device LD210 and user device 2 is broken for some reason, the cellular meshnetwork protocol may attempt to daisy-chain connections to maintainconnectivity of user device 2. For example, upon a determination thatthe LTE data line connection between the lighting device LD 210 and userdevice 2 is broken, the processor of user device 2 may, via thepeer-to-peer connection with user device 1, request permission of theuser device 1 processor to access the lighting device LD 2 via the LTEdata line connection between user device 1 and the lighting device LD 2.Based on the access negotiations being successful, the user device 2processor may establish a communication link with the processor oflighting device LD 210.

Before discussing any further implementation examples, it may beappropriate to discuss examples of the structure and configuration ofdevices that may interact with the above referenced environments 100and/or 200. These devices may also interact with the private cellularnetwork, the public cellular communication network, the small-scalecellular network and the large-scale cellular communication network.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of an example of an appropriatelyconfigured lighting device 300 that is configured to interact with theabove referenced environments 100 and/or 200. The device 300 in ourexample includes a processor 310, a data memory 323, a communicationmodules 313, a light driver 333 and a light source 337. The light source337 may be virtually any type of light source suitable for providingillumination that may be electronically controlled. The processor 310 isconfigured to provide control signals to the light driver 333. The lightdriver 333 includes circuitry (not separately shown) configured toreceive control signals from the processor 310 and output a signal todrive the particular type of light source 337 to output light accordingto the received control signals. The generated light may be suitable, ingeneral, for illuminating the space in which the lighting device 300 isinstalled or located.

The data memory 323 may be connected to the processor 310, and may beconfigured to store data and executable programming code. The processor310 is a hardware device configured to execute the programming codestored in the data memory 323. By way of example, the processor may be amicroprocessor coupled to one or more separate memories or the processormay be a central processing unit within a microcontrol unit that alsoincorporates some or all of the data memory 323.

The communication module 313 includes a communication interface 319 anda cellular transceiver 315. In some configurations, the communicationmodule 313 may also optionally include a broadband transceiver 316 (suchas Wi-Fi) and a Bluetooth transceiver 317. The broadband transceiver316, in some examples, is a wired connection, e.g., coaxial cable, fiberoptic or Ethernet. The communication module 313 may be connected to datacommunication networks such as a broadband network and a datacommunication network via the respective broadband and Bluetoothtransceivers 316 and 317. The communication interface 319 functions todistribute signals from the processor 310 to the respective transceiversof the communication module 313. The communication interface 319 alsoprocesses, converts or otherwise formats signals from the processor 310into a signal format that the respective transceivers 315-317, ifpresent, are able interpret for transmission.

For example, while the cellular transceiver 315 is configured to enablecommunication via both the large-scale cellular communication networkand the small-scale, cellular network using a first radio frequencyspectrum, the cellular transceiver 315 is configured, when the lightingdevice 300 turns ON, for example, to initially receive low power signalsassociated with the small-scale cellular network. Since the cellulartransceiver 315 uses the same cellular radio frequency spectrum tocommunicate in both networks, the cellular transceiver 315 may havedifferent configuration settings, e.g., transmit power settings, for useat different times, for connecting to the small-scale cellular networkas compared to the configuration settings for connecting to thelarge-scale cellular communication network. For example, communicationwithin the small-scale cellular network is over a short range (<500meters) and at low power, whereas communication over the large-scalecellular communication network is at a higher power and over a longerrange. As a result, signal power configuration settings are set by theprocessor 310 depending upon whether the lighting device 300 isattempting to communicate via the small-scale cellular network or thelarge-scale cellular communication network. For example, in response toa signal from an application, such as a retail store affinity programapplication, the cellular transceiver 315 broadcasts signals that arelow-power and that transmit over only a short-range because the programonly wants to establish contact with other devices within a short rangeof the lighting device 300 executing the application. The other devicemay be a lighting device similar to lighting device 300. In anotherexample, lighting device 300 is configured to provide relay or otheraccess to large-scale cellular network for user devices in the premisesin which the lighting device 300 is installed. The lighting device 300includes a cellular telephone application, which is stored in memory323. In response to a request from a user device in the vicinity toconnect to the large scale cellular network, the cellular telephoneapplication executing by the processor 315 provides configurationsettings to the cellular transceiver 315 that cause the transceiver totransmit at a normal power, and attempts to establish contact with abase station of the large-scale cellular network, such as base station110 of FIG. 1. Examples of cellular transceivers that may be suitablefor use in the described cellular transceiver 315 examples include abroadband high IP3 dual channel downconverter w/fractional-N phaselocked loop and voltage controlled output, 0.7-3.5 GHz from Hittite®,any of the various classes of Snapdragon LTE modems from Qualcomm®, andthe like.

The processor 310 is configured to execute programming code, which maybe stored in the data memory 323. Upon executing the programming code,the processor performs different functions that will be described inmore detail with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8.

FIG. 4 is another functional block diagram of a more compleximplementation of a lighting device. In the example illustrated in FIG.4, the lighting device 400 includes an application processor 410, nativesoftware and operating system 415, a memory module 420, lightingmicrocontroller 430, light driver 435, light source 437, and acommunication module 440. The communication module 440 is substantiallythe same as the communication module 313 of FIG. 3. For example, thecommunication module 440 includes a communication interface 449, acellular transceiver 441, an optional broadband transceiver 443 and anoptional Bluetooth transceiver 445. The functions of the respectivecomponents of the communication module 440 are performed substantiallyin the same manner as described above with respect to the communicationmodule 313 of FIG. 3.

There are differences between the lighting device 300 and the lightingdevice 400. For example, the memory module 420 includes a data memory423 and a random access memory (RAM) 425. Native software, such as alighting control application, text messaging, and the like, andoperating system software/firmware settings may be maintained in aNative Software/Operating System memory 415. Although shown separatelyfor convenience memory 415 may be implemented as part of memory module420. Examples of software or operating system include Apple iOS, GoogleAndroid, Research in Motion's BlackBerry OS, Nokia's Symbian,Hewlett-Packard's webOS (formerly Palm OS) and Microsoft's Windows PhoneOS or Windows 8. A computer application such as a text messagingapplication may be stored in the native software/operating system memory415 of the lighting device 400 or the RAM 425. In addition, instead of aprocessor 310, FIG. 4 shows both an application processor 410 and alighting microcontroller. The light driver 435 of lighting device 400 iscontrolled via the lighting microcontroller 430, which is responsive tocommands from the application processor 410. For example, a lightingcontrol application is stored in the native software/operating systemmemory 415 or the RAM 425. In response to commands from the applicationprocessor 441 executing the lighting control application, the lightingmicrocontroller 430 sends control signals to the light driver 435, whichin turn forwards lighting signals to the light source 437. The driverand source may be similar to those in the example of FIG. 3. The lightsource 437 is suitable for providing general illumination of the spacein which the lighting device 400 is installed.

The application processor 410 executes computer applications and managesfunctions of the lighting device 400 in response to commands from theexecuted computer applications. For example, the lighting device 400, insome examples, includes computer applications, of which there may bemany, that are stored as programming code in native software/operatingsystem memory 415 and in the RAM 425 of the memory module 420. Certaintypes of computer applications are native as these native computerapplications involve processes that are commonly used by the device suchas large-scale cellular networking text messaging applications, voicecalling applications, transceiver control application and applicationsfor management of memory devices. Data generated or used by therespective computer applications may be stored in the data memory 423 ofthe memory module 420. Examples of the types of computer applicationsthat may be accessible by the lighting device 400, as well as userdevices, include specific computer programs related to the management ofthe lighting microcontroller 430, messaging applications, retaileraffinity applications, social networking applications, gamingapplications, mapping applications, mesh networking applications,entertainment applications, such as video and music applications,digital media creation applications, broadcast applications, such asemergency, weather, and the like. Examples of messaging applicationsinclude text messaging, 3^(rd) party messaging (e.g., within applicationmessaging, such as between users playing a game, or Internet messaging)or the like.

In an example, the lighting device 400 is operating as lighting deviceLD 2 of FIG. 1 and is installed in a location similar to the indoorlocation of lighting device LD 2. Similar to the lighting devicedescribed with reference to FIG. 3, the lighting device 400 isconfigured to communicate via the cellular transceiver 441 with a userdevice connected through the private cellular network or through thelarge-scale cellular communication network. In some instances, the userdevice may, when within range, connect with the lighting device 400through the small-scale cellular network and when out of range of theprivate cellular network, the user device may connect with the lightingdevice through the large-scale cellular communication network, forexample to control lighting operations of device(s) 400 at theparticular premises. The interface 449 functions in a similar manner asthe interface 319 of FIG. 3. The interface 449 facilitates connectionsvia the optional broadband transceiver, such as Wi-Fi, or the optionalBluetooth transceiver 445 to a data communication network, such as theInternet or, even to another user device.

The application processor 410 may execute application programming codeto provide and/or perform functions related to different types ofapplications. For example, the application processor 410, in response toa message from an application executing on a user's device (not shown)located in the space in which the lighting device 400 is located, mayperform a selected function. In a particular example, the user devicemessage may request information related to the lighting device 400, suchas a current status of the lighting device 400; and in response theprocessor determines the current status and sends a status reportmessage back to the application on the user device. As another example,a message from a user device may be a request for connection to a datanetwork or large-scale cellular communication network. Upon receipt ofthe connection request, the lighting device application processorprocesses the user device's connection request and appropriatelycontrols the cellular transceiver to provide the user device with theconnection to either the data network or the large-scale cellularcommunication network, depending upon the connection request and/or theuser device application causing the user device to make the connectionrequest. In a configuration, the application processor 410 may beconsidered similar to a smartphone processor that is configured to allowa user device to connect and communicate with the lighting device 400(similar to accessories that communicate to or through a smartphone viaWi-Fi or Bluetooth).

Based on the particular applications available to the applicationprocessor 410 for execution, the application processor 410 may beconfigured to participate in any networked communications with orbetween user devices in the space in which the lighting device 400 islocated. At this point, it may be appropriate to discuss applicationsand how the applications facilitate the integration of lighting devices400, as well as lighting devices 300 and 500, into the communicationinfrastructure of the space in which the lighting device is located.

An example of an application is a computer program retrieved from alighting device memory, from an external memory, or from an applicationserver that may be part of an external data network, such as theInternet, that facilitates the performance of a function. For example, amapping application may provide directions to a requested location ormay identify points of interest for presentation on a display of therequesting user device. Another application example is a lightingcontrol application that operates differently based on the device onwhich it is installed. In an example, a user device executing thelighting control application is communicatively coupled to a particularlighting device among a number of inter-networked lighting deviceslocated in a space. In the example, when the lighting controlapplication is executing on the communicatively-coupled user device, agraphical user interface (GUI) is presented on the requesting userdevice with information related to the respective lighting device towhich the user device is communicatively coupled. The lighting controlapplication may also have information regarding other lighting deviceswithin the space. While executing substantially the same lightingcontrol application, the lighting device to which the user device iscommunicatively coupled does not have a display device to present theGUI. However, the lighting device is able to respond to control signalsreceived from the user device based on commands from a user input viathe GUI. The lighting device 400, in some examples, is configurable toallow configuration settings and preference settings be manipulated wheninitially placed at the space or by a lighting management controldevice, or by a lighting control application executing on user device.

The lighting device 400 may have different sets of configurationsettings for different functions. For example, the lighting driver 435has a first set of configuration settings, while the cellulartransceiver 441 has a second set of configuration settings forinteraction with devices via the private or small-scale cellular networkand a third set of configuration settings for interaction with devicesvia a public network or the large-scale cellular communication network.Examples of a first set of configuration settings for the light driver435 may be maximum and minimum intensity settings, duration that poweris delivered to the light source 437, such as 16 hours continuously or arange of times that the light source 437 is provided with power, such as7 AM to 7 PM or the like. Of course, more sophisticated and complexconfiguration settings for the light driver 435 are envisioned andincorporated. The aforementioned light driver 435 configuration settingsmay also pertain to the light microcontroller 430 or to the light source437 or to a combination of components of the lighting device 400. Theconfiguration settings may also be stored in components of the memorymodule 420, the native software/operating system 415 or both. The memorymodule 420 may also be used to store a list or look-up table of devicesthat are members of a private network. For example, as part of a privatenetwork using the local, low-power cellular communications, the lightingdevice 400 processor 410 establishes a look-up table that includesdevice identifiers, such as an MDN or in the case of a lighting device400, a pre-assigned identifier or the like. Of course other data storageand retrieval techniques, other than a look-up table, may be used.

In addition to a lighting control application, the lighting device 400also executes other applications, for example, text messagingapplications, telephone applications, retailer affinity applications,peer-to-peer communication applications, mesh networking applications,event applications, news applications, weather applications and thelike. Depending upon the different aspects of the respectiveapplications, each such application may be stored in either the nativesoftware/operating system memory 415 or in a memory of the memory module420. For example, due to the need for security, a telephone application(which may have subscriber data) may be stored in the nativesoftware/operating system memory 415, which is protected with additionalsecurity features (e.g., encryption and/or authentication requirements)rather than in the memory of the memory module 420. Each of theseapplications may have their own configuration and/or user preferencesettings, which may also be stored in either memory 415 or 420.

In an example described in more detail with reference to FIG. 6, theseother applications may be executing on lighting device 400, whichenables lighting device to exchange, via the cellular transceiver 441over the small-scale cellular network, application-related informationwith user devices that are also executing their own versions of therespective applications. For example, a mesh networking applicationexecuting on the application processor 410 of the lighting device 400may facilitate the establishment of a mesh network with a number of userdevices (also executing the mesh networking application) and a number oflighting devices (also executing the mesh networking application)similarly configured as lighting device 400 in the space. In theexample, a user device, such as a smartphone, transmits a meshnetworking application message that includes an identifier associatedwith the user device, such as a mobile device number (MDN),International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI), International MobileEquipment Identity (IMEI) or the like. Note that the respective lightingdevice 400 and other lighting devices in the space may also have uniqueidentifiers such as an MDN, IMSI or IMEI, so other devices, such as theuser devices in the space, are able to identify the lighting devices inthe space. Continuing with the example, the lighting device 400 receivesthe meshing networking application message from the user device. Themesh networking application executing on the lighting device 400processor 410 uses the user device identifier to maintain a listing ofmembers in the mesh network. The application processor 410 determinesapproximate user device locations relative to the lighting device 400by, for example, the measuring user device signal strength to determineapproximate user device locations with respect to the lighting device400. Examples of mesh networking applications include Open Garden® andthe Serval Project®, and examples of mesh networking protocols includeBabel and dynamic source routing (DSR).

In some examples, the applications on the respective lighting devicesand user devices include data in the transmitted message to identify theapplication and/or the sending device to other user devices and/orlighting device in the mesh network that receive the transmittedmessages. As will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS.6-10, the application processor 410 responds to application messages toprovide information or perform an action related to the specificapplication that sent the message.

FIG. 5 is another functional block diagram of yet a more complex exampleof a lighting device. In the example of a lighting device 500illustrated in FIG. 5, the lighting device 500 includes an applicationprocessor 510, native software and operating system 515, an applicationmemory 511, random access memory (RAM) 513, lighting microcontroller530, light driver 535, light source 537, and a communication module 540.The communication module 540 is substantially the same as thecommunication modules 313 of FIG. 3 and 440 of FIG. 4. For example, thecommunication module 540 includes a communication interface 548, acellular transceiver 541, an optional broadband transceiver 543 and anoptional Bluetooth transceiver 545. The functions of the respectivecomponents of the communication module 540 are performed substantiallyin the same manner as described above with respect to the communicationmodule 313 of FIG. 3 and/or communication module 440 of FIG. 4. Anotable difference between the lighting device 500 and the lightingdevices 300 and 400 of FIGS. 3 and 4, respectively, is the electricallyerasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) 520. The EEPROM 520 is amemory that is used to store configuration and setting codes formanaging the light output of the light source 537. Configuration andsetting codes may include turn ON/OFF times, an indicator of a group oflighting devices to which the lighting device belongs, lightingbrightness settings, lighting transition settings, and the like. Thelighting microcontroller 530 is configured to access the EEPROM 520 toretrieve configuration and setting codes, which are applied to the lightdriver 535 and/or the light source 537.

In an example, the application processor 510 may be configured toreceive updated configuration and setting codes for the lighting device500 from an external source, such as a user device or a managementcontroller, via the cellular transceiver 541, the broadband transceiver543 or the Bluetooth transceiver 545. The received updated configurationand setting codes may be received by the application processor 510 andstored to the EEPROM 520 for use by the lighting microcontroller 530.For example, based on the configuration of the lighting microcontroller530, the lighting microcontroller 530 may access the EEPROM 520 atdifferent times, such as every evening, at the onset of daylight savingstime, or the like, to retrieve the configuration or setting codes. Theconfiguration and setting code updates may be received from time to timeby the application processor 520. The application processor 510 may alsobe configured to execute computer applications in a manner similar tothe application processor 410 in the FIG. 4 example. Examples ofcellular transceivers that may be suitable for use in the describedcellular transceiver 541 examples include a broadband high IP3 dualchannel downconverter w/fractional-N phase locked loop and voltagecontrolled output, 0.7-3.5 GHz from Hittite®, any of the various classesof Snapdragon LTE modems from Qualcomm®, and the like. As will bedescribed in more detail with reference to FIGS. 6-10, the applicationprocessor 510 responds to application messages to provide information orperform an action related to the specific application that sent themessage.

The configurations of the lighting devices 300, 400 and 500 mayconfigured to perform various functions. For example, each of thelighting devices 300-500 when appropriately configured may execute theone or more functions, such as those illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8.

It may be appropriate now to describe devices such as those describedwith reference to FIGS. 3-5 in an example system implementation. FIG. 6is system block diagram example of an implementation of appropriatelyconfigured lighting devices and user devices operating in an environmentaccording to the described subject matter. A number of networks areshown in FIG. 6 that interact to provide services to user devices, suchas smartphones, computers, tablets and the like. The illustratednetworks 605, 609, 620, 625 and 640 also provide services to generalappliance devices, such as lighting devices, printers, refrigerators,residential appliances in general, and other devices. The presentdiscussion will be limited to lighting devices and user devices, butother devices, such as printers, appliances and the like may beincorporated into the respective premises, and may participate in thesystem as a user device.

The system 600 includes private networks 605 and 609, data network 620,Internet 625, and public network 640. Components that facilitate theinteraction of the different networks include base station 630 andserver 650. Additional devices may connect to the network such ascomputer 660. The private networks may be a wireless network in whichthe number of members is limited by the distance the members in thenetwork are from one another. The devices within the private networks,as described above, communicate using licensed cellular radio frequencyspectrum, but at a low power that limits the effective range, such as500 meters, of transmissions between devices. As a result, deviceswithin the range limit of, say, 500 meters, from one another are able tocommunicate with other devices within the same 500 meter range. Forexample, the private network 605 may be a mesh network, that is formedwithin a sports arena, a stadium, a shopping mall, convention center ora similar venue where access to the public network 640 may be limiteddue to obstructions or interference.

The lighting devices 612, 614 and 632 may all be configured according tothe examples described with reference to one of FIGS. 3-5. Similarly,the user devices A, M and W may be configured with an applicationprocessor and cellular transceiver as described with respect to lightingdevices 300-500 of FIGS. 3-5, but in the form of a smartphone, or othersimilar user device, such as a cash register or the like, instead of alighting device.

In the private network 605, a number of lighting devices, 612 and 614,and a number of user devices A and M are shown. Of course, more or lesslighting devices and/or user devices may be included. The privatenetwork 605 may be established within a shopping mall, for example, inwhich the access to the public network 640 is limited, in this example,to only the lighting device 612. The lighting device 612 may be withinthe shopping mall space, but may have a clearer (i.e., having lessinterference and/or less obstructions) wireless communication path tothe base station 630 than other devices in the private network 605.Alternatively, the lighting device 612 may have a wired connection to asuitable antenna, or even a wired connection, to the base station 630.The private network 605 is a cellular network that is established whenthe user devices A and M come within range, shown as less than (<) 500meters, of the lighting device 612. Since lighting device 612 isstationary, the lighting device 612 may only interconnect with userdevices, such as A and M, that come within the short range (<500 m)limitations of the cellular transceiver when the cellular transceiver iscommunicating within the private cellular network.

With the appropriate applications executing by an application processor(not shown) within the respective user devices A and M, the user devicesA and M may establish communications with the respective lightingdevices 612 and 614. For example, user device A may execute a particularapplication in which a similar instance of the particular application isavailable to the lighting device 612 for processing any messages relatedto the particular application that may be received from the user deviceA. Since user device A is less than 500 m from the lighting device 612,user device A via its cellular transceiver joins the private network 605using the appropriate mesh networking protocol for joining the privatenetwork 605. User device A upon joining private network 605 maycommunicate with the lighting device 612 and other devices, such aslighting device 614 or user device M in the private network 605.

The connections between the user devices A and M and lighting devices612 and 614 are labeled as alternate network connections to indicatethat these connections are not public network connections (i.e.,transmissions from the cellular transceiver at a power setting suitablefor public cellular communication network communications), but areprivate network connections (i.e., low-power, short range cellulartransmissions), broadband (e.g., Wi-Fi) or Bluetooth connections.

As background with respect to the particular applications on therespective user device A and the lighting device 612, each of device Aand 612 is configured with a processor, such as application processor410 or 510. Each device may have a number of applications that may beexecuted by the respective device's processor. The number ofapplications may be stored in a device memory. Each application maypermit users of the application to select settings about theapplication. The settings may include configuration settings, which aresettings as to how the application will interact with other devices, andpreference settings, which are user specific settings that a user mayselect to allow the device to provide different display settings, set alevel of detailed information that the application shares, how often thedevice attempts to share information and the like. The user preferencesettings may also affect configuration settings. For example, a userpreference setting may include the communication mode that the deviceuses to perform application tasks. So, for example, the user preferencesettings may include choices between broadband (e.g., Wi-Fi), Bluetooth,private cellular network and/or public cellular communication network.The user by selecting one of these preference settings may indicate theuser's preference of communication mode for the particular device.

For example, if the application is a retailer affinity application, thepreferred communication mode may be the private cellular network settingso the user receives information about the retailer when the user isclose to a retailer location. In contrast, if the application on theuser device is a sports reporting application, the user may select thepublic cellular communication network to ensure that the user receivessports scores whenever the user device has access to the public cellularcommunication network. There may be hybrid configuration and preferencesettings as well. Continuing with the sports application example for anexplanation of a hybrid setting, suppose one of the user preferencessettings allows the user device to receive video of any scoring plays ofthe user favorite team (e.g., another preference setting). However, theuser may not want to use their public cellular communication networkconnection for the download of video because, for example, thedownloaded video will consume a substantial portion of the user'sallotted public cellular communication network data plan. As a result,the sports application may provide the user via a user interface on adisplay (not shown) of the user device with an option to select acommunication mode, such as a broadband communication mode, for thedownload of the video from the sports application. User devices M and Wmay also be similarly configured to allow a user to make configurationand/or preference setting selections.

Similar to user device A, the lighting device 612 processor may alsohave settable configuration settings and user preference settings.However, since the lighting device 612 is does not have a displayincorporated into the lighting device, a management device such ascomputer 660, may have access to the lighting device 612 and is able toexecute a lighting device management application that allows a user ofthe computer 660 to select via a user interface the configurationsettings. Via command signals from the computer 660, the lighting device612 processor may be instructed how to communicate with user devices inthe space in which the lighting device 612 is located and how toestablish a communication path with the base station 630 or with datanetwork 620. For example, the computer 660 commands may include username and password information as well as other information needed toestablish connections with the respective public cellular communicationnetwork 640 and the data network 620. The computer 660 may connect tothe data network 620 which may be the data network associated with thespace in which the lighting devices 612 and 614 are located. As shown inFIG. 6, the connection between the computer 660 and the data network 620may be direct or may be via the Internet 625. As part of theconfiguration and/or preference settings, the computer 660 may providecommands that the lighting devices' 612 and 614 processors use to causethe applications to broadcast information related to the respectiveapplication. Lighting device 612 may have a primary connection (wired orwireless) to the data network 620. When lighting device 612 receivescommands from the computer 660, the lighting device may broadcast thecommands to other lighting devices, such as lighting device 614.Alternatively, both lighting devices 612 and 614 may be connecteddirectly to the data network 620 via individual connection paths, suchas via Wi-Fi, wired, or the like.

In addition, the computer 660 may be have a lighting controllerapplication that is capable of connecting to the respective lightingdevices 612, 614 and 632. As a management device, computer 660 allows auser through a user interface to control the lighting device. Forexample, the user may set turn ON/OFF times, brightness levels,brightness transitions, and other functions related to the lightproduced by the respective lighting device 612, 614 and 632. Forexample, a lighting device, such as 612, may be configured to inresponse to an input signal received via the data network 620 or thebase station 630, delivers lighting control instructions to the lightmicrocontroller (shown in the earlier examples in FIGS. 3-5). Inaddition, or alternatively, one of user devices A or M may have anapplication that permits a user to manipulate the lighting device 612light output.

The mesh networking configuration of the private network 605 allowsdevices that are not within the short range limit of one device to stillconnect to the one device by connecting to another device that is withinrange of both devices. In other words, devices can form a daisy chainthat allows a requesting device to connect with a target device, or,said differently, an intended recipient device. An example isappropriate to illustrate the capabilities of devices that are membersof the private network 605. For example, lighting device 612 is within500 meters of lighting device 614. Since the lighting devices 612 and614 are within the short-range, the lighting devices 612 and 614 areable to communicate via the low-power short range configuration settingsof the respective cellular transceivers within the lighting devices 612and 614. Lighting devices 612 and 614 may be the only permanent membersof the private network 605 because they are stationary. User devices Aand M may only pass through the short range limit of the lightingdevices 612 and 614. For example, user device A is outside the shortrange limit (i.e., 500 meters) of lighting device 614. However, userdevice A is within range of lighting device 612. Using the daisy chaincapabilities of the private network 605, user device A is able towirelessly communicate with lighting device 614, and vice versa. So ifuser device A and lighting device 614 execute a related application,such as a department store affinity application or sport teamapplication, the two devices, user device A and lighting device 614, mayexchange application information or other relevant information.Extending the daisy chain further, user device M is wirelessly connectedto lighting device 614, which allows user device A to also connect touser device M in the private network 605. The daisy chain would bebroken if user device M were to travel outside the short range limit andaway from lighting device 614 (and also still be outside the short rangelimit from lighting device 612). As a result, user device A would not beable to communicate with user device M.

Due to the location of the lighting device 612, the lighting device 612may be able to offer additional connectivity to the devices within theprivate network 605. For example, lighting device 612 may be located inthe space that is close to a data network 620 extending through thespace, or in a location that has adequate signal strength to connectwith base station 630, which has access to the public network 640. Inthis example, the lighting device 614 may be able to provide access tothe public network 640 or data network 620 to other user devices, suchas user device M, via a daisy chain connection with lighting device 614.The daisy chain connection between lighting devices 612 and 614 may bevia a low-power, short-range cellular connection suitable for theprivate network 605. Alternatively, the daisy chain connection betweenthe lighting devices 612 and 614 may be via a broadband connection, suchas Wi-Fi or the like, that may provide a higher bandwidth connection.

In a detailed example, the lighting devices 612 and 614 may be locatedin a sports stadium and, in particular, located near a food concourse ofthe stadium. The lighting devices' processors 612 and 614 may haveseveral applications executing, such as a food retailer affinity programapplication, a sports application for the home and visiting teamsplaying in the sports stadium at the time, a sports league application,a sponsoring bank application and/or the like. The applications oflighting devices 612 and 614 may have configuration and preferencesettings that instruct the respective processors to broadcast via therespective lighting device's cellular transceiver in a low-power,short-range setting suitable for the private cellular network a seriesof broadcast messages. The individual broadcast messages in the seriesmay include information relevant to the respective applications in aseries of broadcast messages. The broadcast messages may be received byany devices that are in the short range of the lighting device. Devicesoutside the short range will not receive the broadcast message becausethe broadcast message signal strength is not sufficient for thereceiving device transceivers at the outer limits of the range(e.g., >500 meters). However, other devices may repeat the broadcastmessages so the messages may be received by another user device. Forexample, lighting device 614 may be configured to repeat the broadcastmessage from lighting device 612 so devices, such as user device M, mayreceive the broadcast message.

In a detailed example, the lighting devices 612 and 614 may be locatedin a sports stadium and, in particular, located near a food concourse ofthe stadium. The lighting devices' processors 612 and 614 may haveseveral applications executing, such as a food retailer affinity programapplication, a sports application for the home and visiting teamsplaying in the sports stadium at the time, a sports league application,a sponsoring bank application and the like. The lighting device 614 maybe configured to repeat broadcasts from the lighting device 612, andvice versa. In the example, the series of messages in the broadcastmessage may be related to the above-mentioned several applications: thefood retailer affinity program application, the sports application forthe home and visiting teams playing in the sports stadium at the time,the sports league application, and the sponsoring bank application. Thebroadcast message may include an announcement of a food offer from thefood retailer, information about the home or visitor sports team fromthe home/visitor sports team application, an announcement about scoresof other teams' games in the sports league, a bank notice, and the like.Receipt of each of these messages elicits a response from the respectiveuser devices A and M depending on whether the user device has therespective application (for example, the user of user device M may notbank at the sponsoring bank) and, if the user device has access to therespective application any associated configuration/preference settingsfor the application.

In response to the broadcast messages received from the lightingdevices, the respective user device A and M processors decode thebroadcast message according to pre-established protocols and/orprocesses through which the respective processors determine the intendedrecipient applications of each respective message of the series ofmessages in the broadcast message. If a user device, such as user deviceA, does not have a particular application, the processor may make thatdetermination and discontinue processing that message and move on to anext message in the series. Upon decoding the messages, the user deviceA processor may access the food retailer affinity application stored inthe user device memory, or that is executing on the device, anddetermines user preferences with respect to the received food retaileroffer. The user preference settings for the food retailer affinityprogram on the user device A may indicate to always accept offers forfood. In response to the user preference settings, the user device Aprocessor may generate a request for a coupon associated with the foodoffer, and send the request to the lighting device 612. In response tothe received request, the lighting device 612 may process the receivedrequest as will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 7and 8. The food coupon will be delivered to the user device A in orderto satisfy the request.

In addition, the applications may also have a setting that permits theapplication to search for other devices that have a similar application.For example, user device A may have an extra hockey ticket for tonight'sgame. The ticketing application may have a setting that allow userdevice A to broadcast messages offering the ticket for sale. The userdevice A processor may generate its own broadcast messages and transmitthe broadcast message within the private cellular network. Lightingdevice 612 may receive the broadcast message from user device A and mayrebroadcast the ticket offer message, which is received by the lightingdevice 614. In turn, lighting device 614 rebroadcasts the message thatis subsequently received by user device M and other devices. Other userdevices, such as user device M, may have the ticketing application,which may have preference settings to always present offers for ticketswhen received over a private cellular network. Upon receipt of thebroadcast messages, the user device M may generate a response acceptingthe offer, the chain of communications reverses and the message isforwarded to lighting device 614, which forwards the response message tolightened device 612, which forwards the response message to user deviceA. Upon completing delivery of the response message, user device A maynegotiate a direct communication link with user device M via anavailable communication mode, such as connecting through a broadbandnetwork, the public cellular communication network or some othercommunication network.

In another example, a lighting device may receive a user device requestfrom an application that is not executing on the lighting device.However, the lighting devices 612 and 614 may have access toapplications that are not resident in the memory of the lighting devices612 and 614 by sending a request to the server 650, which may be anapplication server. The application server 650 may provide a copy of theapplication, or provide the requested information to the respectivelighting device so the lighting device may provide the requested data tothe application of the requesting user device. Using this capability,the user devices A and M in the private network 605 with the lightingdevices 612 and 614 are able to participate in more of the messagingbeing exchanged.

In another example, private network 609 may include a user device W andlighting device 632. The private network 609 may be in an officebuilding that does not have adequate public (cellular communication)network coverage to provide the user device W with service. Meanwhile,the lighting device 632 due to its location within the building doeshave an adequate signal strength for completing a call to the basestation 630 and to the public network 640. When attempting to make acall over the public cellular communication network from the user deviceW, the lighting device 632 detects the connection attempt by the userdevice W, and forwards the connection attempt message to the basestation 630. The lighting device 632 may detect the connection attemptas a connect to the base station 630 based on information included inthe connection attempt request message. In response to the determinationthat the requesting device is attempting to complete a public cellularcommunication call via the public network 640 and based on theinformation included in the connection message, the lighting device 632forwards a connection request to the public (cellular communication)network 640 via the base station 630. The information included in theconnection attempt request message may include the requesting mobiledevice number (MDN), an MDN of target device (i.e., device beingcalled), public cellular communication network specific information,such as an IMEI, IMSI or the like. In this way, the lighting device 632is able to facilitate providing cellular communication coverage intoareas that do not have adequate public cellular communication networkcoverage. The inadequate or poor public cellular communication networkcoverage may also be due to a large number of users being present at thesame location and saturating a base station with requests to connect.The present example may be extended to allow the large number of devicesrequesting access to the public network to gain access to the saturatedbase station.

Returning to the stadium example involving lighting devices 612 and 614,user devices A and M, due to the large number of public network users inthe stadium, may be unable to access the base station 630. However,lighting device 612, in this example, is configured to manage hundredsof communication attempts with the base station 630 from devices withinthe private network 605. For example, by using the low-power settings ofthe private network the lighting device 612 identifies the members ofthe private network, and based on broadcast messages of the identifiedmembers is able to identify those members that are attempting to contactthe base station 630. The lighting device 612 may have a connection tothe base station 630 that allows the lighting device 612 to send abundle of connection requests on behalf of the identified members of theprivate network 605, such as user devices A and M, to the base station630. The bundle of connection requests may be viewed as a singleconnection request thereby reducing the number of connection requestsreceived by the base station 630. The bundled connection request may beunbundled by the base station 603, and dealt with according to publicnetwork 640 protocols.

In another example, the public network 640 may also be a data networkthat allows devices, such as lighting device 632, to access servers 650to retrieve information based on requests from user devices, such asuser device W, in private network 609.

The lighting devices 612 and 614 may have access to applications thatare not resident in the memory of the lighting applications by sending arequest to the server 650, which may be an application server. Theserver request may be delivered either via a connection through the datanetwork 620 and Internet 625, or via the base station 630 and the publicnetwork 640. User preferences on the lighting device 612 may indicatewhich communication pathway is preferred. The application server 650 mayprovide a copy of the application or provide the requested informationto the respective lighting device so the lighting device may provide therequested data to the application of the requesting user device.

The foregoing discussion provided an overview of the capabilities of asystem configured with lighting devices and user devices equipped asdescribed with reference to FIGS. 3-5. The following discussion providesexamples of the process that an appropriately configured lighting devicemay perform upon receipt of a broadcast message.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart of an example of a process flow corresponding toexamples of communications between an appropriately configured lightingdevice and other devices. The communication process 700 illustrated inFIG. 7 operates with communications that are transmitted via thecellular communication spectrum, and, in particular, the short-range,low-power, and private, cellular network. A cellular communicationdevice at 705 connects to an appropriately-configured, cellular-enabledlighting device at 707. The connection between the cellularcommunication device, such as a user device 123 a-c of FIG. 1, and theappropriately-configured, cellular-enabled lighting device, such as300-500 of FIGS. 3-5, may be formed over a private cellular networkusing customary handshaking techniques.

For example, while establishing a connection between the lighting deviceand a user device, the processor may transmit a data message intendedfor a recipient user device within the small-scale cellularcommunication network via the cellular transceiver of the communicationmodule. The cellular transceiver of the lighting device transmits a datamessage using the first radio frequency spectrum. The transmitted datamessage may include information that is used by the lighting device toidentify the user device in the small-scale cellular network. Inresponse to the transmitted data message, the lighting device processormay receive from a user device in the small-scale cellular communicationnetwork a response message via the lighting device's cellulartransceiver. At step 710, the processor may determine the content of thereceived response message. For example, based on the received responsemessage, the processor may identify a type of connection that is beingrequested in the response message. The types of connections may includea direct connection to another user device in range of the lightingdevice or network of lighting devices, a lighting device access request,a data access request or the like. Upon identifying the connection type,the lighting device processor completes the requested connectionaccording to the identified connection type.

The identification of the particular type of connection being requestedmay be accomplished using different methods. For example, if aparticular application of the user device is establishing the connectionwith the lighting device, the particular application may include anapplication identifier with any transmitted messages so a receivingdevice may process the received message based on the includedapplication identifier. A processor, such as application processor 410or 510, may receive the message, read the application identifier, callthe identified application, and process the message according toinstructions provided by the application configuration and userpreference settings. A device identifier that is provided, or assigned,by the application may also be included with any messages sent by therespective applications via the user device or by an applicationexecuting on the lighting device.

More specifically, in response to the identified connection type being adirect connection, establish a direct connection with the target userdevice through the large-scale cellular communication network via thecellular transceiver, such as in step 715. Alternatively at step 715, ifthe device that the requesting user device is requesting to be connectedto is part of the small-scale cellular network, the processor may beconfigured to transmit a data message intended for a recipient devicewithin the small-scale cellular network via the cellular transceiver ofthe communication module. Regardless of whether the large-scale cellularcommunication network or the small-scale cellular network is used, thecellular transceiver transmits the data message using a first radiofrequency cellular spectrum that is used by both the large-scalecellular communication network or the small-scale cellular network.

In another example, upon establishment of a direct connection betweenthe lighting device and a user device, the lighting device processormay, at step 710, identify the connection type as a connection typedifferent from the device-to-device request connection type. Forexample, the processor may determine the connection type to be a fixtureaccess request connection type. In response to such a determination, theprocess 700 may proceed to 740.

The lighting device processor, at 740, determines based on user deviceauthentication that the requesting user device has permission to accessthe lighting microcontroller. For example, the user device may beauthenticated based on authentication information related to applicationinformation exchanged between the application on the user device and anapplication executed by the lighting device processor. Theauthentication information may be, for example, a username and/orpassword that the lighting device processor has been configured toaccept as permitting remote access to the lighting device the userdevice application may have provided. Based upon the determinedpermission, authorization or authentication, the process 700 may proceedto 744. However, if the processor determines, at 740, that the userdevice is not a device authorized to access the lighting driver of thelighting device, an error message is generated at 742 and is returned tothe user device. For example, the requesting application on the userdevice may present an error message on a display (not shown) of the userdevice, or some other indication may be provided.

At 744, the processor determines, based upon information in the fixtureaccess request, whether the fixture access request is providinginstructions, such as fixture operation adjustments, or is attempting tomake software or firmware adjustments to the light microcontroller.Based on the determination at 740, the processor executes functions inan attempt to satisfy the received fixture access request. If theprocessor determines that the fixture access request is requestingfixture operation adjustments, the process 700 proceeds to 745. At 745,after the appropriate handshaking, such as authenticating the userdevice as a device appropriate to interact with the lighting fixture tocontrol operation of the lighting driver, the processor requests controlsignals from the user device. Alternatively, the fixture access requestmay already include the control signals. In either case, the processorreceives fixture operation adjustment settings from the user device viathe cellular transceiver. At 747, in response to receiving the fixtureoperation adjustment settings from the user device, the processorcommunicates the received fixture operation adjustment settings to thelight microcontroller or light driver. The fixture operation adjustmentsettings received from the user device may be received via the cellulartransceiver of the lighting device. The lighting device cellulartransceiver may be configured to receive the fixture operationadjustment settings via the small-scale cellular network and/or thelarge-sale cellular communication network. Depending upon theconfiguration of the lighting device, the fixture operation adjustmentsettings are either in a format executable by the light microcontrolleror light driver or in a format convertible by the light microcontrolleror light driver.

Returning to 740, if the processor determines that the fixture accessrequest is requesting remote access based on user permissions, theprocess 700 proceeds to 748. At 748, the requesting device, whether amanagement device as described in the example of FIG. 7, or a userdevice, delivers updated operating information, such as at least one ofa software update or a firmware update, to the lighting microcontroller,the light driver and/or light source.

In another example, the lighting device processor may determine thatanother type of connection is being requested by the requesting userdevice. Returning to step 710, the processor may determine that the typeof connection requested by the requesting user device may be a datanetwork request. A data network request is a request by the user todevice to connect to a data network to receive data, such as aconnection to the Internet, a connection to an intranet of the space inwhich the lighting device is installed, or a connection to thelarge-scale cellular communication network.

In response to a determination that the connection type is a datanetwork request connection type, the process 700 may proceed to step720. At 720, the lighting device processor may request from therequesting device that sent the received data, information related to adata network that the user device is requesting to connect. For example,the requesting device may be requesting connection to the intranet of abusiness in which the lighting device is installed. The lighting devicemay be configured to have connections to an intranet of a business inthe space that the lighting device is connected. For example, if thelighting device is located in an engineering firm, the lighting devicemay serve as a wireless access point for the user devices, such astablets, smartphones or cell phones, to connect to the firm's datanetwork. Or, if the space in which the lighting device is located is ashopping mall, there may be multiple intranets that the lighting devicemay serve as an access point. For example, the shopping mall may have anintranet that extends throughout the shopping mall premises, andindividual retail stores, such as a department store, in the shoppingmall may have its own intranet. This type of data network may considereda data backbone request, which is a request to connect to the datanetwork associated with the space in which the lighting device islocated. Alternatively, the lighting device processor may perform adifferent process if the request is for the Internet or a specificwebsite not associated with the space in which the lighting device isinstalled. For example, in the above-mentioned shopping mall scenario, arestaurant may not be located in or around the shopping mall, and a usermay wish to view a menu of the restaurant. The user may cause the userdevice to request access to the restaurant's website, which may not beavailable on or through the shopping mall intranet. As a result, thelighting device processor may process the request to determine whetherthe user device needs to access a cellular network in order to fulfillthe user device's data request. If the determination is YES, the userdevice needs access to a cellular network to satisfy the data request,the lighting device, at 725, may access the large-scale cellularcommunication network or the public cellular communication network andcommunicate the data request over the large-scale cellular communicationnetwork or the public cellular communication network.

For example, in response to the determination that cellularcommunication network access is required to satisfy the data networkconnection request, the lighting device processor, which is serving asthe large-scale cellular communication network access point for the userdevice, may forward a connection request to a large-scale cellularcommunication network base station via the cellular transceiver of thecommunication module. The lighting device processor may have requestedor been provided with user device information that facilitates theconnection with the large-scale cellular communication network. Forexample, the device information may include information such as devicepower supply status, device communication mode preferences, deviceidentifier, device cellular communication service provider, or a deviceuser name. The foregoing presumes that the large-scale cellularcommunication network is available to the user device.

However, the large-scale cellular communication network may beunavailable because the space in which the user device is located maynot have signal strength that is adequate for communicating with thelarge-scale cellular communication network. Thus, if the determinationis NO, the user device does not need access to a cellular network tosatisfy the data request, the lighting device, at 720, may proceed to730 at which a determination may be made whether the data backbone issufficient to satisfy the data request. If the determination at 730 isYES, the data backbone may be used to satisfy the data request, thelighting device processor may redirect the establish connection to analternate communication network, such as Wi-Fi (i.e., 802.11xx) orBluetooth (including Bluetooth-low energy) for transmission of the data.In other words, instead of exchanging the data over the small-scalecellular network as presently being used, the lighting device may assistthe user device to connect to a Wi-Fi or Bluetooth network in the spacethat allows the user device to receive the requested data. For example,the lighting device processor may request information from the userdevice, such as an identifier, user name, password or the like, as wellas a an indication of the type of network (e.g., Wi-Fi, Bluetooth orother) that is preferred by the user device. Upon receipt of theinformation related to the data network and the user device, thelighting device processor may send a request to the preferred datanetwork requesting a communication channel be formed between the userdevice and the data network (735). The lighting device processor mayalso use the user device provided information to determine whether thedevice is permitted to connect to the data network based on theidentifier.

Transferring the user device from the small-scale cellular network mayreduce interference in the small-scale cellular network and also freesthe processor resources to allow the lighting device to engage in briefcommunications over the small-scale cellular network.

Returning to step 730, the processor may determine that the databackbone is not needed for the data network request because, forexample, the data network within range of the user device does not havethe data or does not have access to the data. For example, returning tothe shopping mall scenario, the user device may be requesting data of adistant retailer located at the opposite end of the shopping mall fromwhere the user device is presently located within the shopping mall. Inaddition, the shopping mall intranet does not provide access to thedistant retailer's website or intranet (for example, for securityreasons). However, a lighting device located close to the distantretailer may have access to the distant retailer's wireless intranetaccess point. Accordingly, the lighting device that is processing theuser device request determines, at 730, that use of the data backbone isnot an option, in which case the process 700 proceeds to 737.

At 737, the lighting device processor attempts to locate a near-by, andsimilarly configured, lighting device to inquire about accessing thedistant retailer's wireless intranet. A similarly configured, orappropriately configured, lighting device would be a lighting deviceconfigured as discussed with reference to FIGS. 3-5, or any lightingdevice capable of communicating via the small-scale cellular networkusing the cellular radio frequency spectrum. The attempt to locate anear-by, and similarly configured, lighting device may be a transmissionvia the cellular transceiver in a transmission mode suitable for use inthe small-scale cellular network. The transmission may contain aninquiry message inquiring if any appropriately configured lightingdevice has access to the distant retailer's intranet (Step 737). This isthe scenario in which a mesh network implementation of the lightingdevices becomes useful. In such a mesh network implementation, theinquiry message is passed from the first lighting device that initiallybroadcasts the inquiry to other lighting devices, which if unable topositively respond to the inquiry, re-broadcast (Step 739) via anotherlow-power, short-range transmission of the inquiry message until theinquiry message receives a positive response from a lighting device.Common mesh networking protocols may be used to perform the functions toaccomplish steps 737 and 739.

Other processes may also be implemented, such as the example provided inFIG. 8. FIG. 8 illustrates a process flowchart for communication betweena lighting device as described in FIGS. 3-5 and one or more userdevices. The process 800 of FIG. 8 may be implemented by a lightingdevice communicating via the cellular transceiver as described in any ofFIGS. 3-5. The lighting device cellular transceiver may be configured touse the cellular radio spectrum and initiate communications with otherdevices in the space that the lighting device is located through aprivate cellular network. Examples of other devices in the space includeprinters, facsimile machines, reproduction machines, imaging devices,mobile devices, tablet devices, appliances, vending machines,point-of-sale devices, food preparation machines, vehicles, emergencyequipment, premises security sensors, cameras and entertainment devices,such as televisions, audio output devices (e.g., music players) andrecording devices, and the like. Another device that may communicatewith a lighting device may be a management device, which may be, forexample, a device that manages the lighting fixture (such as a buildingautomation device or a network device), such as device 660 of FIG. 6. Aprivate cellular network, like the above referenced small-scale cellularnetwork, is configured with devices that communicate via low power,short range signals. For example, the private cellular network may useavailable LTE cellular radio frequency spectrum over a short range,which may be, for example, approximately 500 meters. The process 800begins at step 805.

At 805, a user device attempts to establish communicates with a lightingdevice. The lighting device is configured as part of the privatecellular network, and at 808, the user device and the lighting deviceare connected in the private cellular network. The lighting device inaddition to the cellular transceiver is optionally configured with abroadband transceiver and/or a Bluetooth transceiver. The lightingdevice may be configured to switch between the various transceivers tocommunicate with other devices capable of communicating via the optionaltransceivers. Upon establishing the connection with the lighting devicethrough the private cellular network, the user device may transmit aconnection message that is received by the lighting device. The lightingdevice processor, at 809, evaluates the received connection message anddetermines whether the lighting device is the intended recipient of theconnection message. If the determination at 809 is YES, the lightingdevice is the intended recipient, the process 800 proceeds to 819. At819, the lighting device processor processes the received connectionrequest according to the application preferences associated with theconnection request. For example, the connection request may be related alighting control application of the lighting device or some otherapplication. Based on the lighting device with which the connection wasmade at step 808, the lighting device processor may have presetpreferences as to how the lighting device responds to the connectionrequest. If the determination is NO at 809, the process 800 proceeds tostep 810.

At 810, the lighting device processor analyzes the received connectionmessage to determine a type of connection that the user device isrequesting. For example, each type of connection message may include aset number of bits that indicate the type of connection message. Thelighting device is capable of making several types of connections, suchas a message relay connection, a fixture control information connectionand a data network request. A message relay connection message may be arequest for information that if unfulfillable by the receiving lightingdevice, is retransmitted to another appropriately configured lightingdevice that may be able to satisfy the request. For example, the userdevice may not have an adequate signal strength to connect to a publiccellular communication network base station because the user device islocated far indoors in the space, which results in a base station signalstrength that is not adequate to accommodate a connection. However, somelighting devices (e.g., lighting device 612 of FIG. 6) in the space maybe positioned at a location in the space that provides adequate basestation signal strength to complete a call over the public cellularcommunication network.

In response to the lighting device processor determining that therequesting user device is requesting a message relay step 810, andproceeds to step 815. At 815, the lighting device processor forwardsinformation received from the requesting device by broadcasting theinformation in a connection request message to other devices that areappropriately configured in the private network. The broadcast messageis broadcast via the cellular transceiver, but is a low-powertransmission that is only transmitted over a short range. As part of theprivate network, the lighting device processor may establish a list orlook-up table of devices that are members of the private network. Thelook-up table may include device identifiers, such as an MDN or in thecase of a lighting device a pre-assigned identifier or the like.

Since the message is a broadcast message, at 820, the processoridentifies, via the look-up table or other data structure, other devicesin the private network that may need to receive the message, such asthose devices, that have already received the message. In response to adetermination that YES, connect to other devices, the process returns to808, and the above determinations at steps 810, and 815 repeat until thedetermination at step 820 is NO, and the process 800 ends.

In an alternative example, at 815, the processor may identify a specificlighting device as having to receive the information associated with theconnection request. For example, the message relay may be needed tochange configuration settings of a particular lighting device, such as alighting device in the basement level of a facility. As a result, theconnection request message may include a specific identifier associatedwith the lighting device that identifies the lighting device that is thetarget recipient of the connection message. Therefore, the messagegenerated at 815 may be specifically addressed to another specificlighting device in the space. At 820, the processor determines that YESanother device must be contacted the process 800 proceeds base to 808 toattempt a connection with the specific device. If, however, the lightingdevice processor determines at 820 that another device does not need themessage, then the process 800 ends. The target recipient device and therequesting device may create a peer-to-peer connection via the devices'respective cellular transceivers (or Bluetooth transceivers or broadbandtransceivers) to exchange information directly without any furtherinteraction with the lighting device.

Instead of the lighting device processor making a determination that theconnection request is a message relay, the processor may determine thatthe connection request is related to either fixture control information(e.g., a status request or update) or a data network request from theconnecting device. Returning to step 810, the processor may determinethat the type of connection is a fixture control information request.Upon a determination that the connection request is a fixture controlinformation request, the process 800 proceeds to 830. Using theconnection between the requesting device established at 808, thelighting device processor, at 830, interacts with the connecting userdevice according to information included in the connection request. Forexample, the user device may be requesting lighting device lightingconfiguration settings (e.g., brightness settings, ON/OFF times, hoursof use, software/firmware version, or the like). Alternatively, therequest may be a command to update software and/or firmware of thelighting device, and/or a command to change a lighting deviceconfiguration setting, such as ON/OFF times, brightness levels or thelike. Upon completion of the fixture control information request, theprocess 800 may end.

In another example, instead of the lighting device processor making adetermination that the connection request is a message relay or afixture control information request, the processor may determine thatthe connection request is related a data network request from theconnecting device at step 810. Upon a determination that the connectionrequest is a data network request, the process 800 proceeds to 840. At840, the processor may gather information relevant to the requestingdevice and the type of network that the requesting device is requestingto connect. For example, if the data network the requesting device isrequesting to connect is the large-scale cellular communication network,or public network, the, processor may request an MDN, IMEI or IMSI ofthe requesting device at 840. Upon receipt of the requested informationfrom the requesting user device, the lighting device processor via thecellular transceiver (which is in a high-power mode suitable for use inthe large-scale cellular communication network) may transmit, at 845, toa base station associated with the large-scale cellular communicationnetwork, such as base station 630 of FIG. 6, for attachment to thelarge-scale cellular communication network. Upon successful attachmentof the user device to the large-scale cellular communication network,the lighting device may act as a repeater device to maintain the userdevice's connection to the large-scale cellular communication network,and process 800 ends.

FIG. 9 illustrates an example of an operating scenario of appropriatelyconfigured lighting devices, a management and user devices operating ina small-scale cellular network and a large-scale cellular communicationnetwork according to an embodiment of the disclosed subject matter. Thescenario 900 illustrated in FIG. 9 includes lighting device 910, amanagement (MGMT) device 920, lighting device 930 and user devices C andD. Each of the lighting devices 910 and 930 are similar in configurationas one of devices 300-500 as shown in FIGS. 3-5. In addition, userdevices C and D are configured to include a cellular transceiverconfigured to communicate over a private network 905, such as asmall-scale cellular network, as well as a large-scale cellularcommunication network (not shown). The lighting devices 910 and 930 maybe positioned at different locations within the same space, such as aretail department store, home improvement warehouse store, or grocerystore. The locations of the lighting devices 910 and 930 allow thelighting devices to form private network 905. User devices C and D mayalso join the private network 905 based on their short range proximity(not shown) to lighting device 910. Of course, as explained withreference one or more of devices, C and D, may have join the privatenetwork 905 via a connection to lighting device 930. Management (MGMT)device 920, which may be similar to computer 660 of FIG. 6, is externalto the private network 905. Alternatively, the MGMT device 920 may be asmartphone, tablet or the like.

The lighting device 910 is further configured to act as a privatenetwork 905 facilitator for other devices in the space. For example, thelighting device 910 acts as an access point for devices, such as MGMTdevice 920, external to the space. In the scenario 900, the lightingdevice 910 is shown receiving information from the MGMT device 920. Theinformation may be lighting control information, such as commands toturn ON, a firmware update information, or the like. The connectionbetween the lighting device 910 and the MGMT device 920 may be ahigh-power cellular radio frequency spectrum signal that is transmittedwithin the large-scale cellular communication network, or publiccellular network.

The MGMT device 920 lighting control message may be directed to lightingdevice 930, but may also be directed to lighting device 910. In otherwords, MGMT device 920 may be attempting to control both lightingdevices 910 and 930. The lighting device 910 receives the lightingcontrol message from the MGMT device 920 via the lighting device's 910cellular transceiver, which as mentioned is set to receive signals viathe higher power settings associated with the large-scale cellularcommunication network. Upon receipt of the lighting control message, thelighting device 910 process determines that the lighting control messageis intended for lighting device 930, which is a member of the privatenetwork 905 with lighting device 910. In response to the determinationthat lighting device 930 is a member of the private network 905, thelighting device 910 alters the cellular transceiver settings from ahigh-power transmission setting to a low-power transmission settingsuitable for transmitting cellular radio frequency signals in theprivate network 905. Using the lower-power cellular signals suitable fortransmission in the private network 905, the lighting device 910forwards the lighting control signals to the lighting device 930.

As for user devices C and D, these devices may broadcast messagespertaining to applications accessible (e.g., executing or stored in theuser device memory) to each of the respective user device. Similarly,lighting device 910 may broadcast messages related to applicationsaccessible to the lighting device 910. Upon detection of anapplication-specific message within the broadcast message, therespective device, such as user device C, may respond to the lightingdevice with a connection message. The connection message may requestadditional information regarding the application-specific message withinthe broadcast message. The lighting device 910 and user device C mayexchange additional information in response to the connection message.For example, the space in which the private network 905 may be locatedmay be an office building that has a deli in it, and the deli isoffering a lunch special using a popular social application.

The lighting device 910 may broadcast a message related to the popularsocial application in which the message also identifies the deli or thedeli's offer. The user devices C and D receive the broadcast messagefrom the lighting device 910. Since only user device C has access to thepopular social application, the user device C processor responds to thebroadcast message and receives more information such as an electroniccoupon or the like, in order for user of user device C to receive thelunch special offer. User device D may be configured to respond to otherapplication-specific messages in the broadcast messages and/or the like.Of course, other scenarios are envisioned.

For example, FIG. 10 illustrates another example of an operatingscenario of appropriately configured lighting devices operating in asmall-scale cellular network according to an embodiment of the disclosedsubject matter.

In the scenario 1000, private network 1005 is formed in a space occupiedby lighting devices 1024 and 1020, and user device CRM. The lightingdevice LD 1024 may be configured to have access to a data network, suchas data network 620 of FIG. 6, and to a public network, such as network640 via a base station 630 also in FIG. 6. The space in which thelighting devices 1024 and 1020 may respond to commands from server 1014.Server 1014 is configured as a facilities manager server, and may managethe operation of the lighting devices 1024 and 1020 in the space.

In the illustrated example, lighting device LD 1024 may be an accesspoint to the space for the server 1014. In other examples, the server1014 may have connections to all lighting devices within the space, ormay have access to several lighting devices that act as access points.For ease of explanation, only lighting device LD 1024 will be describedas an access point and distributor of received communications in theprivate network 1005, but it is envisioned that other devices may act inthe same capacity. The connection between the lighting device LD 1024and the server 1014 may be via a large-scale cellular communicationnetwork. Lighting device LD 1024 may also be configured to utilize itsconnection to the data network to satisfy data network requests fromuser device members in the private network 1005. Via the data network,the lighting device LD 1024 may have access to an application serversuch as application server 1064. Similar to the lighting devices 300-500of FIGS. 3-5, the lighting device LD 10124 may be configured withmultiple transceivers, some of which may have selectable power settingsto permit high-power transmission and low-power, short-rangetransmissions. The lighting device LD 1024 connections to the respectiveservers 1014 and 1064 may be via a large-scale cellular communicationnetwork cellular transceiver settings, broadband settings, such as Wi-Fior Li-Fi, or the like.

Consider the example, in which user device CRM requests access to a datanetwork to retrieve video data. User device CRM may communicate with thelighting device LD 1024 using its cellular transceiver set to a modethat allows low-power cellular radio frequency transmissions suitablefor use in the private network 1005. Via the cellular transceiver, theuser device CRM transmits a message including a data network request. Inresponse to receiving the data network request, the lighting device LD1024 negotiates on behalf of the user device CRM a connection to thedata network (not shown). Upon completion of the connection, the userdevice CRM may gain access to the application (app) server 1064 throughthe lighting device LD 1024, and exchange information that results inthe app server 1064 providing video information to the lighting deviceLD 1024 for distribution to the user device CRM. For example, a videoplayer application of the user device CRM may have generated a datanetwork request for a particular video file. However, lighting device LD1024 may be configured to facilitate the use of radio frequencyresources in the private network 1005, so the radio frequency resourcesare used in as most efficient manner as possible. In the presentexample, the cellular radio frequency of the private network isbandwidth limited and is not configured to deliver substantial amountsof data, such as a video or large data download. For example, thelow-power, range limited cellular transmissions are configured todeliver kilobytes (KB), not megabytes (MB) of data.

As a result, the lighting device LD 1024 may query the user device CRMfor its capabilities, such as whether the user device CRM is configuredwith a broadband transceiver, such as Wi-Fi or Li-Fi. If the CRM deviceis configured with a broadband transceiver and the user grantspermission to use broadband, the lighting device LD 1024 establishes abroadband connection with the lighting device CRM. The video isdelivered by the lighting device LD 1024 via the lighting device's 1024broadband transceiver. This selection of transceivers may, for example,be based on user preferences associated with a video player applicationthat requested the video data to be delivered to the user device CRM. Inmore detail, the user device CRM has user preference settings for avideo player application in which the preferred delivery method is viabroadband opposed to large-scale cellular communication network deliver,which may incur a charge to the user of the user device CRM. As a resultof the user preference settings, the video data is delivered to the userdevice CRM via a broadband connection.

Lighting device LD 1024 may also respond to communications received fromdevices external to the private network 1005 such as server 1014.Lighting device's 1024 cellular transceiver may have an MDN associatedwith a public network (e.g., a large-scale cellular communicationnetwork), and is therefore capable of receiving information from theserver 1014 as well as other devices, such as user device CRM. In thepresent example, the server 1014 may be a management server that isconfigured to provide information, such as control commands, softwareand firmware updates, and the like to lighting devices, such as lightingdevices 1024 and 1020. As shown in the scenario 1000 of FIG. 10, theconnection between the lighting device LD 1024 and the server 1014 isshown as an LTE data line over which lighting control information isbeing transmitted. The LTE data line may be cellular radio frequencycommunication that is a high-power communication between the lightingdevice LD 1024 and server 1014. The lighting device LD 1024 isconfigured with the appropriate computer application that permits theserver 1014 to provide lighting control commands and the like asdiscussed above. Upon receipt of the lighting control commands, thelighting device LD 1024 may determine which lighting devices in theprivate network 1005 are intended recipients of the received lightingcontrol commands.

For example, the received lighting control command may be intended onlyfor lighting device LD 1020, or may be intended for both lighting deviceLD 1024 and 1020, or some other group or groups of lighting devices thatare in the space and available for inclusion in the private network1005. If the lighting device LD 1024 processor determines that thereceived lighting commands are intended for lighting device LD 1020, thelighting device LD 1024 processor may determine which communication mode(such as private network cellular communication mode, broadband mode orBluetooth) the lighting device LD 1024 may use. For example, if lightingdevice LD 1020 is within Bluetooth range of lighting device LD 1024, thelighting device LD 1024 processor may deliver the lighting controlcommands via the lighting device's 1024 Bluetooth transceiver. Thedetermination of communication mode may be based on configuration anduser preference settings made according to a lighting managementapplication or managing device. In the illustrated example, the lightingdevice LD 1024 forwards the received lighting control commands via theprivate network (i.e., via the cellular transceiver using low-powercellular radio frequency signals) to the lighting device LD 1020, whichalso may be based on the configuration and/or user preference settingsof the lighting device LD 1020.

Scenarios other than 900 and 1000 are also envisioned that permit userdevices to participate in the private or cellular mesh networks.However, since lighting devices are ubiquitous, a lighting deviceconfiguration that includes the elements and features as described aboveimproves upon existing lighting technology by providing a device thatextends the communication reach of user devices in a space that haslimited access to the large-scale cellular communication network whilealso facilitating the provision of value-added services to the space.

FIGS. 11 and 12 provide functional block diagram illustrations ofexamples of general purpose hardware platforms. FIG. 11 illustrates anetwork or host computer platform, as may typically be used to implementa host or server, such the computer 660 or if provided as a separateplatform any of the lighting devices 300-500 of FIGS. 3-5 in which therespective lighting microcontroller, and/or lighting driver and lightsource may be considered part of the I/O components. FIG. 12 depicts acomputer with user interface elements, as may be used to implement apersonal computer or other type of work station or terminal device, suchas one of the terminal 660 in FIG. 6, although the computer of FIG. 11may also act as a server if appropriately programmed. The block diagramof a hardware platform of FIG. 11 represents an example of the lightingdevice, a user device, such as a tablet computer, smartphone or the likewith an interface to one or more wireless links. It is believed thatthose skilled in the art are familiar with the structure, programmingand general operation of such computer equipment and as a result thedrawings should be self-explanatory.

A server (see e.g. FIGS. 6 and 10), for example, includes a datacommunication interface for packet data communication via the particulartype of available network. The server also includes a central processingunit (CPU), in the form of one or more processor circuits, for executingprogram instructions. The server platform typically includes an internalcommunication bus, program storage and data storage for various datafiles to be processed and/or communicated by the server, although theserver often receives programming and data via network communications.The hardware elements, operating systems and programming languages ofsuch servers are conventional in nature, and it is presumed that thoseskilled in the art are adequately familiar therewith. Of course, theserver functions may be implemented in a distributed fashion on a numberof similar platforms, to distribute the processing load.

Also, a computer configured as a server with respect to one layer orfunction may be configured as a client of a server in a different layerand/or for a different function. For example, the intelligent lightingdevices 1024, 1020 operate as client devices of server functionsimplemented by 1014 or 1064, whereas the same platform performing thelighting control management function as a client or as a server withrespect to the computer 660. Also, user terminal devices such as 660often are configured as client devices; and the server 650 may functionas a server with respect to client functionalities of devices such as660.

A computer type user terminal device, such as a desktop or laptop typepersonal computer (PC), similarly includes a data communicationinterface, processing circuitry forming the CPU, main memory (such as arandom access memory (RAM)) and one or more disc drives or other massstorage devices for storing user data and the various executableprograms (see FIG. 12). A user device (see FIG. 10) type user terminalmay include similar elements, but will typically use smaller componentsthat also require less power, to facilitate implementation in a portableform factor. The example of FIG. 11 includes a wireless broadbandnetwork (Wi-Fi or Li-Fi) transceiver (XCVR), a cellular transceiver suchas a 3G, 4G or LTE cellular network transceiver configurable forhigh-power communication typically associated with 3G, 4G or LTEcellular network communications as well as low-power communication overa shorter range, but that still utilized the 3G, 4G or LTE cellularnetwork radio frequency spectrum. In addition to a cellular transceiver,the lighting device implementations of a computing device example ofFIG. 11 also may include shorter range wireless transceiver such as aBluetooth and/or Wi-Fi or Li-Fi transceivers for wireless communicationwithin the spaces that a lighting device may be located. A mobile device(see FIG. 13) type user terminal may include similar elements, but willtypically use smaller components that also require less power, tofacilitate implementation in a portable form factor. The example of FIG.13 includes a wireless cellular transceiver (XCVR) such as a 3G or 4Gcellular network transceiver as well as a short range wirelesstransceiver such as a Bluetooth and/or WiFi transceiver for wirelessbroadband communication. The computer hardware platform of FIG. 11 theterminal computer platform of FIG. 12 and mobile user device of FIG. 13are shown by way of example as using a RAM type main memory and a harddisk drive for mass storage of data and programming, whereas thelighting device of FIG. 11 and mobile user device of FIG. 13 may includea flash memory and may include other miniature memory devices. It may benoted, however, that more modern computer architectures, particularlyfor portable usage, are equipped with semiconductor memory only.

The various types of user terminal devices will also include varioususer input and output elements. A computer, for example, may include akeyboard and a cursor control/selection device such as a mouse,trackball, joystick or touchpad; and a display for visual outputs (seeFIG. 12). The user device example in FIG. 12 and the mobile user deviceexample of FIG. 13 may provide a touchscreen type display, where thedisplay is controlled by a display driver, and user touching of thescreen is detected by a touch sense controller (not shown in FIG. 12,but indicated by Ctrlr in FIG. 13). The hardware elements, operatingsystems and programming languages of such computer and/or mobile userterminal devices also are conventional in nature, and it is presumedthat those skilled in the art are adequately familiar therewith.

Although FIGS. 11 to 13 in their present form show computers and userterminal devices, generally similar configurations also may be usedwithin other elements of the lighting device 300-500. For example, oneimplementation of the central processing unit (CPU), which may include aprocessor and/or an application processor, communication and interfaceelements of a lighting device may utilize an architecture similar tothat of one of the computers or mobile user devices, such assmartphones, tablets or the like. As a more specific example, thepersonal computer type hardware in FIG. 12 (except for the keyboard,mouse and display) could serve as the processing element andcommunication elements of a lighting device, where the input/outputinterface I/O would interface to an appropriate light driver and to anysensor(s) or other enhancement input or output device(s) included withinthe lighting device. As another example of use of an architecturesimilar to those of FIGS. 11 and 12 that may be utilized in a devicelike that of FIGS. 3-5 or an environment of FIG. 6, a lightingcontroller or other user interface device (UI) might utilize anarrangement similar to the mobile device of FIG. 11, albeit possiblywith only one transceiver compatible with the networking technology ofthe particular premises (e.g. to reduce costs).

The block diagram of a hardware platform of FIG. 13 represents anexample of a mobile device, such as a tablet computer, smartphone or thelike with a network interface to a wireless link, which mayalternatively serve as a user device like 113 a, A, or M. It is believedthat those skilled in the art are familiar with the structure,programming and general operation of such computer equipment and as aresult the drawings should be self-explanatory.

As also outlined above, aspects of a determining communications betweenlighting devices and user devices (e.g. FIGS. 7 and 8), and a process todetermine a type of transceiver or transceiver setting to be utilized bya lighting device and/or a user device for communicating information(e.g., FIGS. 6 and 10) between the lighting device and the user devicemay be embodied in programming of the appropriate system elements.Program aspects of the technology discussed above therefore may bethought of as “products” or “articles of manufacture” typically in theform of executable code and/or associated data (software or firmware)that is carried on or embodied in a type of machine readable medium.“Storage” type media include any or all of the tangible memory of thecomputers, processors or the like, or associated modules thereof, suchas various semiconductor memories, tape drives, disk drives and thelike, which may provide non-transitory storage at any time for thesoftware or firmware programming. All or portions of the programming mayat times be communicated through the Internet or various othertelecommunication networks. Such communications, for example, may enableloading of the software from one computer or processor into another, forexample, from a management server or a management computer 660 of thelighting system service provider into the computer platform of any ofthe lighting devices 300-500, user devices or third party devices. Thus,another type of media that may bear the software/firmware programelements includes optical, electrical and electromagnetic waves, such asused across physical interfaces between local devices, through wired andoptical landline networks and over various air-links. The physicalelements that carry such waves, such as wired or wireless links, opticallinks or the like, also may be considered as media bearing the software.As used herein, unless restricted to non-transitory, tangible “storage”media, terms such as computer or machine “readable medium” refer to anymedium that participates in providing instructions to a processor forexecution.

It will be understood that the terms and expressions used herein havethe ordinary meaning as is accorded to such terms and expressions withrespect to their corresponding respective areas of inquiry and studyexcept where specific meanings have otherwise been set forth herein.Relational terms such as first and second and the like may be usedsolely to distinguish one entity or action from another withoutnecessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or orderbetween such entities or actions. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,”“includes,” “including,” or any other variation thereof, are intended tocover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article,or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include onlythose elements but may include other elements not expressly listed orinherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An elementproceeded by “a” or “an” does not, without further constraints, precludethe existence of additional identical elements in the process, method,article, or apparatus that comprises the element.

Unless otherwise stated, any and all measurements, values, ratings,positions, magnitudes, sizes, and other specifications that are setforth in this specification, including in the claims that follow, areapproximate, not exact. They are intended to have a reasonable rangethat is consistent with the functions to which they relate and with whatis customary in the art to which they pertain.

While the foregoing has described what are considered to be the bestmode and/or other examples, it is understood that various modificationsmay be made therein and that the subject matter disclosed herein may beimplemented in various forms and examples, and that the teachings may beapplied in numerous applications, only some of which have been describedherein. It is intended by the following claims to claim any and allapplications, modifications and variations that fall within the truescope of the present teachings.

What is claimed is:
 1. A lighting system comprising lighting devices tobe installed at a premises, each respective one of the lighting devicesincluding: a light source configured to provide visible generalillumination light output at the premises; a light driver includingcircuitry configured to output a signal to drive the light source; acellular transceiver configured to communicate via cellular radiofrequency spectrum; and a processor coupled to the light driver and thecellular transceiver, the processor being configured to controloperations of the respective lighting device, including operation viathe cellular transceiver to: communicate via a small scale cellularnetwork established amongst the lighting devices using the cellularradio frequency spectrum; receive via a short range, low power cellularsignal a data network request from a user device at the premises,requesting access to a broadband data network; and in response to thedata network request requesting access to the broadband data network,establish a broadband communication for the user device via the smallscale cellular network, wherein one of the lighting devices isconfigured for access to the broadband data network, and the processorof the one lighting device is further configured to interface thebroadband communication for the user device via the small scale cellularnetwork to the broadband data network.
 2. The lighting system of claim1, wherein the one lighting device further comprises a broadbandtransceiver for communicative coupling to the broadband data network. 3.The lighting system of claim 2, wherein the broadband transceiver isconfigured to communicate with the broadband data network via a wiredconnection.
 4. The lighting system of claim 2, wherein the broadbandtransceiver is a wireless data transceiver.
 5. The lighting system ofclaim 1, wherein the processor of the one lighting device is furtherconfigured to control operation of the cellular transceiver of the onelighting device to provide access to the broadband data network vialarge scale cellular communication in the cellular radio frequencyspectrum.
 6. The lighting system of claim 5, wherein the processor ofthe one lighting device is further configured to: set power of thecellular transceiver of the one lighting device to communicate via thesmall-scale cellular network using low power signals, and set power ofthe cellular transceiver of the one lighting device to communicate viathe large-scale cellular network using normal cellular power signals,higher in power than the power set to communicate via the small-scalecellular network.
 7. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein theprocessor of the one lighting device is further configured to: respondto the request by sending a query through the small scale cellularnetwork to the user device, and establish the broadband communicationfor the user device upon receipt of a response to the query from theuser device via the small scale cellular network indicating userpermission to establish the broadband communication.
 8. The lightingsystem of claim 1, wherein: the processor of each lighting device isfurther configured to: receive via a short range, low power cellularsignal a lighting access request from the user device at the premises,requesting access to the processor of at least one of the lightingdevices; and determine if the user device has permission to access theprocessor of at least one of the lighting devices; and upon anydetermination that the user device has permission, each processor of theat least one of the lighting devices is further configured to control anoperation of each of the at least one of the lighting devices inresponse to a control signal obtained from the user device via thesmall-scale cellular network.
 9. The lighting system of claim 8, whereinthe function to determine if the user device has permission is based onauthentication of information related to an application executing on theuser device, obtained from the user device via the small-scale cellularnetwork.
 10. The lighting system of claim 8, wherein: the control signalincludes an operation adjustment setting, and the control operationincludes controlling an operation of the driver of each of the at leastone of the lighting devices based on the operation adjustment setting.11. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein a plurality of the lightingdevices are configured for indoor installation.
 12. The lighting systemof claim 11, wherein at least one of the lighting devices is configuredfor outdoor installation.
 13. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein aplurality of the lighting devices are configured for outdoorinstallation.
 14. A lighting system comprising lighting devices, eachrespective lighting device including: a light source configured toprovide visible general illumination light output; a communicationmodule including a cellular transceiver; and a processor, wherein: foreach respective lighting device, the cellular transceiver of therespective lighting device is configured to communicate via asmall-scale private cellular network established between lightingdevices and including a non-lighting-system device when in the vicinityof the respective lighting device; for one of the lighting devices, thecellular transceiver of the one lighting device also is configured tocommunicate via an external large-scale cellular communications network;and one or more of the processors of the lighting devices is configuredto control communications via the small-scale private cellular networkand the cellular transceiver of the one lighting device, to enable theaccess to the external large-scale cellular communications network fornon-lighting related communications of the non-lighting-system device.15. The lighting system of claim 14, wherein each cellular transceiveris a long term evolution (LTE) transceiver.
 16. The lighting system ofclaim 14, wherein the processor of each respective lighting device isable to: when appropriate, set power of the cellular transceiver of therespective lighting device to communicate via the small-scale cellularnetwork using low power signals, and when appropriate, set power of thecellular transceiver of the respective lighting device to communicatevia the large-scale cellular network using normal cellular powersignals, higher in power than the power set to communicate via thesmall-scale cellular network.
 17. The lighting system of claim 14,wherein the communication module of at least one of the lighting devicesfurther includes a wireless broadband data transceiver.
 18. A pluralityof lighting devices, each lighting device of the plurality including: ageneral illumination light source; and a cellular transceiver, wherein:the cellular transceiver of each lighting device is configured tocommunicate via a small-scale private cellular network establishedbetween lighting devices and including a non-lighting device when in thevicinity of the lighting device; and for one of the lighting devices,the cellular transceiver of the one lighting device also is configuredto enable access to an external large-scale cellular communicationsnetwork for non-lighting related communications of the non-lightingdevice via the small-scale private cellular network.
 19. The pluralityof lighting devices of claim 18, wherein the cellular transceiver ofeach lighting device is configured to communicate with a user device asthe non-lighting device when in the vicinity.
 20. The plurality oflighting devices of claim 18, wherein the cellular transceiver of eachlighting device is configured to communicate with: a printer, afacsimile machine, a reproduction machine, an imaging device, a mobiledevice, a tablet device, an appliance, a vending machine, apoint-of-sale device, a food preparation machine, a vehicle, anemergency equipment, a camera or an entertainment device, as thenon-lighting device when in the vicinity.